Best Travel Credit Cards of May 2026

BCC Editor's Pick 2026

Rates & Fees

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

5.0 BCC Score

Apply Now

on Chase's secure site

Welcome Offer

Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening

Rewards Rate

Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases

Intro APR

0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months and 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months, then 18.24% - 27.74% Variable

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score Needed

Excellent/Good

Card Brand

Visa®

Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the United States!
Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 27.74%.
No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
Member FDIC

Pros

Lengthy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
Ability to easily combine points with your other Chase Travel℠ credit cards

Cons

There is a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
At 18.24% - 27.74% Variable, the ongoing APR is relatively high

BCC Editor's Pick 2026

Rates & Fees

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

5.0 BCC Score

Apply Now

on Capital One's secure site

Welcome Offer

Earn 20,000 Miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

Rewards Rate

1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

Intro APR

0% intro on purchases for 15 months and 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months, then 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score Needed

Excellent, Good

Card Brand

Mastercard®

Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
$0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 18.49% - 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Top rated mobile app

Pros

Top tier travel perks like the ability to transfer miles to travel partners, while you pay no annual fee
Earning is easy with unlimited 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel – no caps and no restrictions
Traveling overseas is a breeze thanks to no foreign transaction fees

Cons

Balance transfer fee applies
Some cards offer higher rewards rates and bigger welcome offers, although they often have an annual fee

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

5.0 BCC Score

Apply Now

on Bank of America's secure site

Welcome Offer

25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening

Rewards Rate

1.5 points per $1 spent on everyday purchases and 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center

Intro APR

0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, then 17.49% - 27.49% Variable APR on purchases

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score Needed

Excellent, Good

Card Brand

Visa®

25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on everyday purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.
Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants, including takeout.
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 17.49% - 27.49% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 5%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Pros

Among no annual fee travel cards, this one has one of the largest welcome offers
Earn a generous rewards rate of unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on everyday purchases and 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center
No foreign transaction fees and flexible redemption options

Cons

You will need Excellent, Good credit to qualify for this card

Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

4.5 BCC Score

Apply Now

on Chase's secure site

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Rewards Rate

5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases

Intro APR

N/A, then 19.24% - 27.49% Variable

Annual Fee

$95

Credit Score Needed

Excellent, Good

Card Brand

Visa®

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Enjoy beneﬁts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
Member FDIC

Pros

Big sign up bonus to kickstart your rewards earning
Flexible redemption options to stretch your points even further
No limit on the number of points you can earn and points don't expire

Cons

The annual fee is not waived the first year
The spending threshold to earn the sign up bonus is a bit higher than some other cards

Rates & Fees

Citi Strata℠ Card

4.5 BCC Score

Apply Now

on Citibank's secure site

Welcome Offer

Earn 20,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.

Rewards Rate

Earn 3 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services. Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com; earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at Supermarkets, on Select Transit purchases, and at Gas & EV Charging Stations. Earn 2 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent at Restaurants; earn 1 ThankYou® Point for each $1 spent on All Other Purchases.

Intro APR

0% for 15 months on Purchases and 0% for 15 months on Balance Transfers, then 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score Needed

Excellent, Good

Card Brand

Mastercard

Earn 20,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months; after that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Earn 3 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services.
Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com; earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at Supermarkets, on Select Transit purchases, and at Gas & EV Charging Stations.
Earn 2 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent at Restaurants; earn 1 ThankYou® Point for each $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
No Annual Fee

Pros

Enjoy a generous rewards structure and welcome offer.
Get a lengthy intro APR on both purchases and balance transfers.
Pay no annual fee.

Cons

There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
There is a 3% foreign transaction fee.

Rates & Fees

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

4.0 BCC Score

Apply Now

on Wells Fargo's secure site

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.

Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 5X points with hotels, 4X points with airlines, 3X points on restaurants and other travel, and 1X points on other purchases.

Intro APR

N/A, then 19.49%, 25.49%, or 28.49% Variable APR

Annual Fee

$95

Credit Score Needed

Excellent, Good

Card Brand

Visa

Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.
Earn unlimited 5X points with hotels, 4X points with airlines, 3X points on restaurants and other travel, and 1X points on other purchases.
$95 annual fee.
Book your travel with the Autograph Journey Card and enjoy Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Baggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
Earn a $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
Up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.

Pros

Earn a generous rewards rate of unlimited 5X points with hotels, 4X points with airlines, 3X points on restaurants and other travel, and 1X points on other purchases
Provides Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Baggage Reimbursement, and more for worry-free traveling
No foreign transaction fees

Cons

The annual fee is not waived the first year
No intro APR on purchases or balance transfers

Rates & Fees

Wells Fargo Autograph® Card

4.0 BCC Score

Apply Now

on Wells Fargo's secure site

Welcome Offer

Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value

Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases

Intro APR

0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and N/A, then 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% Variable APR

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score Needed

Excellent, Good

Card Brand

Visa

Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
$0 annual fee.
0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% variable APR thereafter.
Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.

Pros

No cap on the 3X Points categories
Enjoy up to $600 of cell phone protection
Enjoy all these perks while paying no annual fee for card membership

Cons

No intro APR for balance transfers
There is an ongoing balance transfer fee

Rates & Fees

Chase Freedom Flex®

4.5 BCC Score

Apply Now

on Chase's secure site

Welcome Offer

Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening!

Rewards Rate

5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate, 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases

Intro APR

0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months and 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months, then 18.24% - 27.74% Variable

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score Needed

Excellent/Good

Card Brand

Mastercard

Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the United States.
0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 27.74%.
No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex® card
Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
Member FDIC

Pros

Earn up to 5% cash back on select purchases
The spend threshold to earn the welcome offer is significantly lower than most credit cards
Escape high interest rates with a lengthy intro APR on purchases and balance transfers

Cons

There is a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
There is a cap on the 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories

Rates & Fees

Discover it® Miles

4.5 BCC Score

Apply Now

on Discover's secure site

Welcome Offer

Discover will match all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year

Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase

Intro APR

0% Intro APR for 15 months, then 17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score Needed

Good, Excellent

Card Brand

Discover

UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match. You could turn 35,000 Miles into 70,000 Miles.
Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
No annual fee.
Turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants, and more.
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.49% to 26.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
Terms and conditions apply.

Pros

Simplify your rewards: Earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
Discover will match all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year
No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and award-winning customer service

Cons

There is a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
No ability to transfer Miles to airline or hotel loyalty programs

Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

5.0 BCC Score

Apply Now

on Capital One's secure site

Welcome Offer

75,000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Rewards Rate

2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day, 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel

Intro APR

N/A, then 19.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Annual Fee

$395

Credit Score Needed

Excellent

Card Brand

Visa

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Top rated mobile app

Pros

Earn up to 10x Miles on select purchases
Breathtaking sign up bonus
Generous annual credits keep the rewards coming year after year

Cons

The annual fee is not waived the first year
No intro APR on purchases or balance transfers. A Balance Transfer Fee applies to balances transferred at a promotional rate

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Pros

Cons

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Pros

Cons

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Pros

Cons

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Pros

Cons

Citi Strata℠ Card

Pros

Cons

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

Pros

Cons

Wells Fargo Autograph® Card

Pros

Cons

Chase Freedom Flex®

Pros

Cons

Discover it® Miles

Pros

Cons

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Pros

Cons

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