If you're interested in starting to earn points or miles and enjoying a range of redemption options, there are plenty of travel rewards credit cards to choose from, each with its own benefits. Many of them come with travel perks and protections, offer lucrative welcome bonuses to help you get started, provide access to their respective card issuer's travel portals and let you maximize your rewards by transferring them to various airline and hotel partners. And while many of the top rewards cards have an annual fee, it's often easy to get your money's worth considering all the benefits they come with.
Below, CNBC Select details the best beginner travel rewards credit cards to help you get started with earning points and miles, which can be redeemed for flights, hotels, car rentals and other travel-related activities. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best travel rewards cards for beginners.)
Best starter travel rewards credit cards
- Best for everyday expenses: American Express® Gold Card
- Best for flexible rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Best for frequent travelers: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Best for no annual fee: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
- Best for earning rewards: Citi Strata Premier℠Card
- Best for cash back: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Best for average credit: Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card
- Best for welcome offer: Discover it® Miles
- Best for earning rewards with no annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
- Best for students: Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
Best for everyday expenses
American Express® Gold Card
On the American Express secure site
Rewards
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year, 3X Membership Rewards® points on per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
Annual fee
$325
Intro APR
Not applicable
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
See rates and fees, terms apply.
Read our American Express® Gold Card review.
Who's this for? If you're someone whose budget consists mainly of travel, dining and grocery expenses, the American Express® Gold Card might be an ideal choice.
Standout benefits: The Amex Gold Card provides a range of travel and dining benefits including up to $120 worth of Uber Cash each year (up to $10 per month) to put toward rides in the U.S. and dining via Uber Eats (you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express Gold Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account. The Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States) and up to $120 worth of annual dining credits (up to $10 in statement credits monthly) when you use the card to pay for dining through participating partners like Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys (enrollment required).
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Best for flexible rewards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's secure site
Rewards
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, and $50 annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Terms apply.
Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review.
Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great choice for those just starting with points and miles because of its wide range of travel benefits and redemption opportunities —and for a modest $95 annual fee.
Standout benefits: Perks include a $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, a 10% points boost on your card anniversary, auto rental collision damage waivers, baggage delay insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance and special discounts on purchases made through DoorDash. You'll also never have to worry about paying foreign transaction fees for using the card outside the U.S.
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Best for frequent travelers
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Rewards
5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase
Welcome bonus
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A for purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% variable
Balance transfer fee
$0at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Terms apply.
Who's this for? If bonus categories confuse you and you want a more straightforward earning structure, look no further than the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, which gives you 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, as well as 5X miles per dollar whenever you book rental cars or hotels through Capital One Travel.
Standout benefits: This card offers a statement credit of up to $120 to coverGlobal Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership. There are no foreign transaction fees and cardholders receive MasterRental Insurance*, Travel Assistance Services* and access to additional perks through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment.
*Benefit available to accounts approved for the World Elite Mastercard product, subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions in the World Elite Mastercard Guide to Benefits. See Account Terms or Application Terms for more details. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply.
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Best for no annual fee
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Rewards
5 Miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 1.25X miles per dollar on every purchase
Welcome bonus
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months
Regular APR
19.99% to 29.99% variable
Balance transfer fee
3%for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Terms apply.
Who's this for? Paying an annual fee doesn't make sense for everyone, especially if you're new to the world of travel rewards. If you're in that boat, consider the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.
Standout benefits: Many benefits are similar to its sibling, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, including no foreign transaction fees, auto rental collision damage waiver, access to exclusive events and experiences, purchase protection and extended warranty protection. *Terms, conditions and exclusions apply.Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.
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Best for earning rewards
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
Rewards
Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.; 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations; 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
21.24% - 29.24% variable
Balance transfer fee
5% of each balance transfer, $5 minimum
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Good/Excellent
See rates and fees. Terms apply.
Pros
- Amazing 10X and 3X spending categories
- Earns transferrable points
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- No special financing offers
Who's this for? Anyone interested in a generous welcome bonus and an easy way to pick up points should consider signing up for the Citi Strata Premier℠Card, which is currently offering 70,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.
Standout benefits:There are no transaction fees for using the card outside the U.S. You'll also receive a $100 annual hotel savings benefit, which can be used when booking a single hotel stay of at least $500 through CitiTravel.com. It also offers various travel protections, including trip cancellation/interruption, trip delay, lost or damaged luggage and car rental coverage.
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Best for cash back
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
On Chase's secure site
Rewards
Enjoy 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 6.5% 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; and 3% cash back on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus
INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% for the first 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR
20.49% - 29.24% variable
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either$5or3%of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, either$5or5%of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Member FDIC. Terms apply.
Read our Chase Freedom Unlimited® review.
Who's this for? If you prefer to earn cash-back rewards rather than saving up points and miles to use for future travels, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® might be a good card to go with, especially since there's no minimum amount required to redeem your points.
Standout benefits: Cardholders have access to travel benefits and protections such as auto rental collision damage waivers, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, travel and emergency assistance, purchase protection and extended warranty protection.
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Best for average credit
Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card
On Credit One's secure site
Rewards
10X points on eligible hotels and rental car rentals booked using the Credit One Bank travel partner; 5X points on eligible travel including flights, dining and gas purchases; 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
No current offer
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
29.99% Variable
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Fair to Good credit
See rates and fees. Terms apply.
Pros
- Great return on travel purchases
- Available to those with average credit
Cons
- High APR
- No welcome bonus
Who's this for? If your credit isn't perfect, the Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card is likely one of your best options for travel spending. It earns 5X points on eligible travel, restaurants and gas purchases. In addition, you'll earn a stunning 10X points on eligible hotels and rental cars booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner site (5X when you book and 5X when you complete the travel) and all other purchases earn 1X points.
Standout benefits: The card has no foreign transaction fees, so it's a good option for your next overseas trip. Cardholders also enjoy automatic account reviews for credit line increase opportunities.
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Best for welcome offer
Discover it® Miles
On Discover's secure site
Rewards
Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase.
Welcome bonus
Unlimited Bonus: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers—only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you've earned at the end of your first year. You could turn 35,000 Miles to 70,000 Miles. There's no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases
Regular APR
18.24% - 28.24% Variable
Balance transfer fee
3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Good / Excellent
*See rates and fees, terms apply.
Read our Discover it® Miles review.
Pros
- Miles program
- Generous welcome bonus
- No blackout dates
- No limit to the amount of miles you can earn and miles never expire
Cons
- No Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit offerings
- Travel spending does not receive additional rewards
- No airport lounge access
Who's this for?TheDiscover it® Milesis an easy-to-use travel credit card with a unique welcome offer. Discover will match all the miles new cardmembers earn in their first year, meaning you're effectively earning 3X miles everywhere for a year. For example, if you earn 30,000 miles in your first 12 months of having the card, you'll get another 30,000 miles on top of that, and there's no limit to how many bonus miles you can earn with this offer.
Standout benefits: Cardholders receive an intro 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and eligible balance transfers, after that a variable 18.24% to 28.24% APR applies. Eligible balance transfers qualify for an intro transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transfer, after that the standard balance transfer fee is 5% of the the amount transferred. This card also has no foreign transaction fees.
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Best for earning rewards with no annual fee
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
On Well's Fargo's secure site
Rewards
Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
Annual fee
$0 annual fee
Intro APR
0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases
Regular APR
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR
Balance transfer fee
Up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
See rates and fees, terms apply.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Solid rewards on broad spending categories
- 0% intro APR offer
- Get up to $600 cell phone protection (subject to a $25 deductible)
- Valuable welcome offer
- Access to My Wells Fargo Deals to earn cash back in the form of an account credit when shopping, dining
Cons
- No balance transfer offer
Who's this for? The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card has an exceptional number of 3X-point bonus categories, including restaurants, travel, gas, transit, phone plans and popular streaming services. All other purchases earn 1X points. When you include this card's intro bonus, that's a lot of points you could potentially earn.
Standout benefits: The Wells Fargo Autograph Card has a 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases for new card members, after that a variable 20.24%, 25.24%or29.99% APR applies. It also has no foreign transaction fees, cell phone coverage, roadside assistance, travel and emergency assistance and rental car damage and theft coverage (secondary).
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Best for students
Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students credit card
Rewards
Unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases
Welcome bonus
25,000 online bonus points after you spend at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening, which can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward qualifying travel and dining purchases
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% APR for the first 15 billing cycles on purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account.
Regular APR
18.24% - 28.24% variable
Balance transfer fee
3% of each transaction intro balance transfer fee for the first 60 days from account opening, then 4%
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Good/Excellent
Terms apply.
Who's this for? It's never too early to start getting involved with travel rewards programs and applying for the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students is a great way to get started. It's very beginner-friendly thanks to a straightforward points-earning structure —you'll earn an unlimited 1.5 points for every dollar you spend.
Standout benefits: The card has no foreign transaction fees or annual fees. Additional benefits include a generous 0% intro APR for purchases for your first 15 billing cycles and for balance transfers made within the first 60 days of account opening (after, 18.24% - 28.24% variable), and complimentary monthly access to your updated FICO® Score via Bank of America's Mobile Banking app or Online Banking features.
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More on our best travel credit cards for beginners
American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card offers a stellar return for several popular spending categories, as well as statement credits that can almost entirely offset its annual fee (see rates and fees). Plus, the Amex Membership Rewards points you earn with this card are incredibly valuable.
Rewards
- 4X points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X)
- 4X points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X)
- 3X points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Offer ends 11/6/24.
Annual fee
$325 (see rates and fees)
Notable perks
The Amex Gold allows cardholders to receive up to $120 in annual credits for dining (up to $10 in statement credits monthly; enrollment required) when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys and up to $120 in Uber Cash (up to $10 a month; you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express Gold Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account. The Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States; enrollment required). Anyone who maximizes these perks can easily justify this card's annual fee (see rates and fees).
This card has a variety of build-in insurance coverages*, including:
- Baggage insurance (Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.)
- Extended warranty (Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.)
- Purchase protection (Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.)
- Trip delay insurance (Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.)
- Car rental loss and damage insurance (secondary) (Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.)
* Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Cardholders also receive access to special perks when booking stays through The Hotel Collection; Preferred Seating and exclusive access to shows, concerts and sporting events through American Express Experiences; and additional limited-time perks with SiriusXM, Panera Bread and the Entertainment® app. Terms apply.
How to redeem rewards
Membership Rewards® points can be redeemed through a variety of things, including gift cards, statement credits, travel and more, but you'll generally only get between 0.5 cents and 1 cent in value per point this way. To get around 2 cents per point or more, you can transfer your points to American Express' various airline and hotel loyalty program partners, such as Delta SkyMiles, British Airways Executive Club, Etihad Guest, Emirates Skywards, Avianca LifeMiles, JetBlue TrueBlue, Choice Privileges, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors and more.
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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers valuable travel perks and protections for a reasonable annual fee. Beyond the generous welcome bonus, you'll be well on your way to free (or nearly free) travel in no time, as the card lets you earn elevated rewards in various useful bonus spend categories.
Rewards
- 5X points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 5X points per dollar on Lyft rides through Mar. 31, 2025
- 5X points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 through March 31, 2025 (max of 25,000 total points)
- 3X points per dollar on dining
- 3X points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).
- 3X points per dollar on select streaming services.
- 2X points per dollar on all other travel purchases
- 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee
$95
Notable perks
Cardholders receive a 10% bonus every account anniversary year based on the points they've earned that year. To help offset the card's annual fee, there's an annual Chase Travel hotel credit of up to $50, which applies to hotels you book through the Chase travel site.
The Sapphire Preferred also stands out because of the exceptionally long list of insurance protections you'll get. These coverages include:
- Primary rental car insurance
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
- Baggage delay insurance
- Trip delay insurance
- Travel accident insurance
- Lost luggage reimbursem*nt
- Travel and emergency assistance
- Purchase protection
- Extended warranty protection
- Roadside dispatch
How to redeem rewards
The biggest reason to have this card is its travel rewards. Points are worth 1.25 cents apiece when you redeem them through Chase TravelSM so you'll have $750 in travel rewards to start with after earning the 60,000-point welcome bonus. However, you can get more value when transferring your points to one of Chase's many hotel and airline partners, such as Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, United Airlines MileagePlus, Air Canada Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy, IHG One Rewards and World of Hyatt. Rewards experts generally value Chase points at 2 cents each when transferred to travel partners
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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns versatile rewards with valuable redemption options and offers convenient benefits for travelers.
Rewards
- 5X miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase
Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that's equal to $750 in travel
Annual fee
$95
Notable perks
Cardholders can earn an application feecredit of up to $120 to cover aGlobal Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership. This card also has no foreign transaction fees and extended warranty protection*, Travel Assistance Services*, Purchase Assurance*, MasterRental Insurance*, Master RoadAssist®*, and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage*
*Benefit available to accounts approved for the World Elite Mastercard product, subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions in the World Elite Mastercard Guide to Benefits. See Account Terms or Application Terms for more details. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply.
How to redeem rewards
Redeeming the miles is as easy as it is to earn them. First, you can redeem them at a fixed value of one cent per point to offset recent travel purchases or cash them in toward flights, hotels, rental cars and other travel activities through Capital One Travel. Or, to stretch the value of your miles, you can transfer them to a variety of airline and hotel partners, such as Air Canada Aeroplan, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Etihad Guest, Accor Live Limitless and more.
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Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card earns transferrable miles, which is an amazing benefit to find attached to a no-annual-fee card.
Rewards
- 5X miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 1.25X miles on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 on purchases within three months from account opening
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The VentureOne Rewards card has no foreign transaction fees, auto rental collision damage insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty protection.
Terms, conditions and exclusions apply.Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.
How to redeem rewards
The miles you earn with this card can be transferred to Capital One's roster of airline and hotel partners, allowing you to potentially book expensive flights and hotel stays for fewer miles. Alternatively, you can use miles to offset recent travel purchases or toward booking flights, hotels, rental cars and other travel activities through Capital One Travel at a rate of one cent per mile.
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Citi Strata Premier Card
The Citi Strata Premier℠Card is one of the best options for earning Citi ThankYou® points, which are incredibly valuable travel points.
Rewards
- 10X points on hotel, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com
- 3X points at restaurants
- 3X points at supermarkets
- 3X points at gas stations and EV charging stations
- 3X points on air travel
- 3X points at hotels
- 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 70,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening.
Annual fee
$95
Notable perks
In addition to this card's generous spending categories and large intro bonus, you'll receive $100 off one hotel stay of at least $500 you book through CitiTravel.com each year. The card also has no foreign transaction fees and travel protections such as trip cancellation/interruption, trip delay, lost or damaged luggage and car rental coverage.
How to redeem rewards
The points you earn with the Citi Strata Premier℠Card can be redeemed for travel, gift cards or cash-back rewards through Thankyou.com, online shopping via Amazon or PayPal and statement credits when shopping with eligible retail partners. Points are generally worth up to one cent per point on these types of redemptions, meaning 70,000 points would be worth $700.
However, you can also transfer your ThankYou® points to one of Citi's airline or hotel partners, such as Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, JetBlue TrueBlue, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Choice Privileges and Wyndham Rewards. As with the other programs, you could easily double the value of your points by taking this route.
Learn more: What are Citi ThankYou points worth?
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Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a no-annual-fee cash-back card with generous rewards on everyday spending.
Rewards
- 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 5% back on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
- 3% back at drugstores
- 3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
- 1.5% on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus
Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy, on up to $20,000 spent in the first year.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
Cardholders can take advantage of a 0% intro APR for the first 15 months from account opening on new purchases and balance transfers (after, 20.49% - 29.24% variable APR). There's an intro balance transfer fee of either$5or3%of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, it's either$5or5%of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The card also offers threefree months of DoorDash DashPass, which comes with reduced fees (activate by Dec. 31, 2024).
How to redeem rewards
Rewards earned with this card can be redeemed for cash back, travel, gift cards and more. However, as you're starting in the world of points and miles, you should save your rewards until you have another Chase-Ultimate Rewards-earning card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, since you'll be able to convert the cash back into transferrable Ultimate Rewards points®, which opens up a world of redemption opportunities with the issuer's 14 airline and hotel partners.
Learn more: How to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points
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Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card
If you're credit needs some work and you want to earn rewards while you rebuild it, you'll have a tough time finding a better option than the Credit One Bank Wander American Express Card.
Rewards
- 10X points on eligible hotels and rental cars you book through the Credit One Bank travel partner site
- 5X points on eligible travel, dining and gas purchases
- 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$95
Notable perks
This card has no foreign transaction fees and offers travel accident insurance.
How to redeem rewards
The points you earn are worth one cent each which means you'll get 5% to 10% back on lots of common travel purchases. You can redeem the points for cash back, gift cards and more.
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Discover it® Miles
The Discover it® Miles packs a lot of value into a no-annual-fee travel card and offers a unique welcome bonus.
Rewards
- 1.5X miles per dollar on every purchase
Welcome bonus
Discover will match the miles you earn during the first year with no limit on how much you can earn.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The Discover it® Miles has no foreign transaction fees and new cardholders can take advantage of an introductory 0% APR offer for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers, then a 18.24% to 28.24% variable APR (3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% balance transfer fee on future transfers, see terms).
How to redeem rewards
The miles you earn with the Discover it® Miles function like cash-back rewards. You can redeem them for statement credits, bank deposits or use them to offset travel purchases. These miles are worth one cent each regardless of how you redeem them.
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Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is loaded with valuable features and generous bonus spending categories, especially for a credit card with no annual fee.
Rewards
- 3X points at restaurants
- 3X points on travel
- 3X points at gas stations
- 3X points on popular streaming services
- 3X points on transit
- 3X points on phone plans
- 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first three months.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
Cardholders enjoy cell phone protection when they pay their monthly cell phone bill with the card. This coverage has a $25 deductible and covers up to $600 per claim, with a maximum of two claims per year.
The card has a handful of travel protections that could be useful such as rental car theft and damage coverage (secondary), roadside dispatch and travel and emergency assistance. Plus, the card has no foreign transaction fees making it useful when overseas.
How to redeem rewards
You can redeem Wells Fargo points for travel, gift cards, statement credits and more at a value of one cent per point. However, with the Wells Fargo Autograph Card, you also have the option to transfer points to any of Wells Fargo's travel partners, including British Airways, Iberia, Air France/KLM and Choice Hotels.
Being able to transfer points is an amazing perk for a no-annual-fee travel credit card and can dramatically boost the value of the rewards you earn. For example, you could redeem 34,000 points for $340 in cash rewards or you could transfer 34,000 points to Iberia and book a one-way off-peak business class award from several U.S. cities to Spain, a flight that could cost several thousand dollars.
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Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students stands out for its generous return on everyday purchases, which compares favorably to many standard non-student travel cards.
Rewards
- 1.5X points on all purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 25,000 points after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
New card members receive an intro 0% APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and eligible balance transfers, after that a variable 18.24% to 28.24% APR applies. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transaction made within 60 days of account opening. The standard balance transfer fee is 4% of the amount of each transaction.
The card also has no foreign transaction fees.
How to redeem rewards
Although the rewards earned with this card can't be transferred to airlines or hotels, they can be redeemed in a variety of ways, including toward any flights, hotels, cruises, rental cars, vacation packages, baggage fees and dining (including takeout) you've used the card to pay for. Points have a fixed rate of one cent per point.
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Things to consider before applying for a new card
Keep in mind that card issuers usually require you to havegood creditorexcellent credit(scores above 670). Therefore, it's key tocheck your credit scorebefore applying for your first travel rewards card.
Also, credit card issuers will be looking closely at the number of cards you currently have or have recently applied for. Chase in particular is known for its strict 5/24 rule, which prevents anyone who has applied for five cards within the last 24 months from being approved for a new one with them, so be aware that you may be rejected for that reason.
Finally, it's a good idea to do the math and make sure you'll be able to use enough of your desired card's included benefits to rationalize paying its annual fee, especially if it's a steep one. As always, keep an eye on your budget to ensure you can hit any minimum-spending requirements responsibly and stay on top of your credit score to get a more realistic idea of where you'll stand in terms of approval.
Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in ourcredit card marketplaceor get personalized offers viaCardMatch™.
FAQs
What makes a good starter travel credit card?
When you're just beginning to earn travel rewards having more options is always better. So try to focus on cards that allow basic redemptions such as statement credits and always provide a path to transferring rewards to different airlines or hotels.
Does opening a travel credit card hurt your credit score?
Whenever there is a hard pull on your credit report, you'll see a temporary dip in your credit score. However, over the long haul, it's possible to improve your credit score or maintain a high credit score after opening a credit card by paying your balance in full and on time consistently.
What's the easiest travel credit card to get?
The easiest type of travel credit card to get is generally going to be a secured credit card that requires an upfront deposit to open. However, this type of credit card typically has fewer benefits or weaker rewards.
Bottom line
With a little planning and thoughtful spending — especially if your chosen credit card earns extra rewards points for certain categories of expenses such as dining, travel, grocery shopping or gas purchases — you could be well on your way toward enjoying a well-deserved vacation with most or all of your flights, hotels or car rentals covered by flexible, transferable points and miles thanks to travel rewards credit cards.
Alternatively, if you're a stickler for status and prefer to only fly with certain airlines or stay at specific hotel chains, it might be worth adding an airline credit card or hotel credit card. Instead of providing transferable rewards points for you to redeem with several travel partners, this kind of card would let you rack up rewards through the brand's loyalty program, climb the status ladder and have access to special perks such as late check-out, early check-in, complimentary breakfast or room upgrades.
Just remember that rewards credit cards often requiregoodorexcellent credit(scores above 670), socheck your credit scorebefore applying for one of these cards.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. Seeour methodologyfor more information on how we choose the best beginner travel rewards credit cards.
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Our methodology
To determine which travel rewards cards offer the best value for beginners, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.
We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cashback).
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
For the cards that offered a rewards program, we considered consumer spending data forecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. Since the value of a point or mile varies based on what they can be redeemed for, we also considered things like transferability and the ability to redeem for cash-back.
When choosing the best travel cards, we focused on relevant features, like cards that charge no foreign transaction fees, are widely accepted internationally and provide consumers with bonus rewards on travel spending. We prioritized cards that offered the strongest returns on travel purchases, but also considered additional perks that may be useful when traveling, such as travel protections, baggage allowances, airport lounge access and elite status benefits.
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Information about the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, clickhere.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/ benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.