If you like to travel then you should definitely have a travel credit card. Even if you’re only taking one trip per year, a travel credit will save you a LOT of money, and make certain trips possible that wouldn’t be without a travel card.
As I’m writing this, Kelsey & I just finished “circum-flying” the globe with multiple flights – all of which were free and booked with miles and points from travel credit cards.
Here are the flights we took (all free):
1 – Chicago -> Manila
2 – Manila -> Dubai
3 – Dubai -> Istanbul
4 – Athens -> Chicago
Read on to learn how we did this, what cards we use, and a comparison of some of the top travel credit cards on the market right now! Also, checkout our running list of the best countries to visit!
Things to Prioritize when Considering a Travel Credit Card
When it deciding between travel cards, there are a few things we prioritize, regardless of how high-level or low-level the card is. Here they are.
1- Sign-On Bonus – This is the whole point of the card. You spend what you would normally spend anyways ($4k in 3 months, or whatever) and get a MASSIVE bonus that can easily cover round-trip flights and/or hotels for your trip.
2- Priority Pass – Lounge membership spanning the whole world. This saves you a lot of money at airports b/c you don’t have to buy the expensive airport food. Plus, you get unlimited coffee, space to relax, and often even a shower after a long flight! (In the US these lounges tend to suck now, but abroad – especially in Asia – they can be amazing!)
3 – No Foreign Transaction Fees – I don’t want to be paying extra fees to use my card abroad.
4 – Rental Car Insurance – I don’t want to pay extra for rental car insurance. A travel card should cover this.
-> 2 Week Turkey Itinerary – Our Favorite Country to Visit!
And extra stuff that would be nice…
- TSA Pre/Global Entry Credit – Most good travel cards will credit you $100 for this so you don’t have to pay for it.
- Travel Credit – A lot of high-end cards come with high annual fees, but then they give you back a large part of that fee in a ‘travel-credit’.
- Good Transfer Partners – Points used at 1 cent per point aren’t that valuable. 75k points is only worth $750 in this way. With good transfer partners, you can get double this in value – around 2 cents per point aka $1,500 in value.
In the world of travel, there are really three main cards that most should consider. We’ve created this chart below to compare and contrast them in the categories that we think matter most. Read on to find out which card we have, and which one we think is best.
Our Favorite Travel Credit Cards
Comparison Chart
| Capital One Venture X | Chase Sapphire Preferred | Chase Sapphire Reserve | |
| Annual Fee | $395 | $95 | $550 |
| Current Sign-On Bonus | 75k points / spend $4k in 3 months | 60k points / spend $4k in 3 months | 60k points / spend $4k in 3 months |
| Priority Pass? | Yes, + Capital One Lounges | No | Yes |
| Travel Credit? | $300 | No | $300 |
| TSA Pre/Global Entry Benefit? | $100 credit | No | $100 credit |
| Other Benefits | 10k bonus miles every yr starting on 1st anniversary | Nothing noteworthy | Better Travel Insurance |
Why Many Say the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the best travel card
If you’re going to take advantage of all the benefits each card offers, then the Chase Sapphire Reserve is probably the best. Here’s why…
-> Ultimate 2 Week Colombia Itinerary
The Travel Credit is Easier to Use with Chase
The $300 Venture X credit needs to be used through the Capital One Travel Portal directly. And quite frankly, the Capital One portal sucks. Although it can be fine, it can also be a huge hassle as a lot of things are higher priced through the portal than they are outside of the portal.
For the Reserve, the $300 is automatically applied to your balance anytime you spend on “travel”. Tolls, parking, hotels, flights, rental cars … as soon as you book them Chase automatically reimburses. (and you don’t have to book these through the Chase Portal)
-> The Best Debit Card for Foreign Travel
Points are Worth More in the Chase Portal
When you book through the Chase portal, your points get 1.5 times their value. In the Capital One portal, they only get their actual value. Meaning a flight through Chase worth $750 will cost you 50k points, but a flight through Capital One worth $750 will cost you 75k points.
For the Sapphire Preferred, Chase points are 1.25 times their value.
*Currently, I have the Preferred and Kelsey has the Reserve. When we want to book things through the Chase Portal, I transfer my points to Kelsey so she can book at 1.5 cents per point, instead of my 1.25 cents per point.*
-> Things to Do in Naxos – Our Favorite Greek Island
Chase Syncs Up With Other Cards Very Easily
You can easily transfer points earned on the Chase Freedom cards to your Chase Ultimate Rewards Account, and then sum them all up for a vacation or something. You can also easily combine points with another member of your household.
Not all Capital One cards allow you to do this.
Better Travel Insurance
Both the Venture X and Sapphire Reserve have rental car coverage as well as reimbursement for lost luggage. (We always rent our cars through Discover Cars) Each card also comes with trip delay reimbursement.
The Sapphire Reserve offers $10,000 per person to cover prepaid, non-refundable travel costs if your trip is cancelled or shortened due to illness or severe weather. The Venture X only offers up to $2,000 per person.
-> Safety Wing Travel Insurance – Complete Review
Transfer Partners
Both Capital One and Chase have a ton of airline and hotel transfer partners. However, Capital One has no US airline partners, while Chase partners with United Airlines and Southwest. It is possible to book, for example, a United Airlines flight through the Capital One transfer partner of Turkish Airlines, but it is definitely more complicated and there is less availability.
For hotels, Chase partners with Hyatt, Marriott, and IHG. Capital One partners with Wyndham. (We hardly ever use this benefit b/c we can always book cheaper hotels through Booking.com that aren’t part of the big chains)
-> Sign up for the Saphhire Reserve here
Why I Have the Venture X
The Venture X has a lower annual fee of $395, and with the travel credit of $300, plus the 10k mile anniversary bonus, this card basically costs me nothing. Then, I got the 75k sign on bonus, and I get Unlimited Priority Pass access, which can be HUGE when traveling abroad.
For my Capital One points, I exclusively use them for flights that I book well in advance by transferring to a partner airline. For the travel credit, I also use this on flights, which tend to be the same price whether I book through the portal or directly with the airline – so no loss here. (the portal can be annoying for hotels though)
The Sapphire Reserve does technically come with more benefits than the Venture X. It has better travel insurance, it’s easier to redeem points through the Chase portal, it’s easier to combine points … but I don’t feel the need to pay the extra $150 for these benefits right now. To me, these benefits aren’t worth the extra $150. Also, the sign-on bonus for the Venture X is currently at 75k points vs 60k for the Sapphire Reserve.
-> 2 Weeks in Philippines Itinerary
Why The Sapphire Preferred Might be Best for You
If you’re just looking for free round-trip airfare/hotels for your trip to Greece this summer, and you don’t travel outside the US more than once per year, then the Preferred is probably the best option for you. The annual fee is only $95, you’ll get WAY more than this back in the sign-on bonus (somewhere around $750 in travel if you do it right), and you have no foreign transaction fees. Plus, the Priority Pass doesn’t really matter if you’re not traveling outside the US often.
-> Apply to the Chase Sapphire Preferred here
Summary – Our Favorite Travel Credit Cards
Overall, it depends on what kind of traveller you are.
- If you’re a big spender and are looking for the most comprehensive benefits, then the Chase Sapphire Reserve is probably best.
- If you’re looking for a big sign-on bonus, lounge access, and an annual fee that basically pays for itself with travel credits, then the Venture X is a good option.
- If you’re just looking to get a free round-trip flight or hotel for your vacation next year, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is probably the best option. The low annual fee coupled with the sign on bonus and zero foreign transaction fee makes this card a great option.
We hope this helps you decide which card to get. Regardless, if you’re planning a trip, you should definitely get A card. Travel card sign-on bonuses are a great way to afford trips that you would never pay for yourself.
