In the universe of travel rewards, there are three fundamental laws which govern all of existence: 

1. Never carry a credit card balance.
2. Always spend enough to hit the sign up bonus.
3. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best entry level travel rewards card.

The third item on this list always catches my attention. This is a travel rewards mantra, and the default answer to “Which travel rewards credit card should I get first?” With the historic 100,000 point sign up bonus in 2021, the math supported the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card answer. However, as the new sign up bonus declined to 60,000, and bounced back up to 80,000, does the math hold? Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card still the best entry level travel rewards card?

The Favorite Entry Level Travel Rewards Credit Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most well known travel rewards credit cards on the market. The low annual fee, simple earning structure, and valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points draw both beginners and experts to Chase. You have the option to transfer your points to a wide variety of valuable partners, like Southwest and Hyatt, or redeem the points via Chase’s Travel Portal. In addition, Chase offers you a “pay yourself back” program on a rotating set of categories.

Alternative Entry Level Travel Rewards Credit Cards

American Express® Gold Card

The American Express® Gold Card is not only aesthetically pleasing, but provides a wide range of pleasing earning opportunities in key discretionary expense categories. Despite the highest annual fee ($250) of any entry level travel rewards credit card, the American Express® Gold Card more than justifies the cost through multiple credits. AMEX offers you multiple redemption opportunities, either through transfer partners, like British Airways and Hilton, or via the AMEX Travel Portal. 

American Express® Green Card

The American Express® Green Card often finds itself in the shadows of the American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express but a recent revamp is cause for excitement. Counteracting the relatively high annual fee, the American Express® Green Card offers numerous credits and earning opportunities for travel related spend. AMEX offers you multiple redemption opportunities, either through transfer partners, like Virgin Atlantic and Marriott, or via the AMEX Travel Portal.

Capital One Venture 

The world of travel rewards is extremely complex and at times confusing, enter the Capital One Venture. The Capital One Venture allows you to earn valuable miles at a constant rate of 2x for every purchase. Simple. Easy. Combine a simple earning rate with a simple redemption rate (almost all partners are now 1:1) and the Capital One Venture truly stands alone. A newly revamped Capital One Travel Portal also provides a breathe of fresh air. 

Citi Premier 

The Citi Premier does a little of everything, and it does it well. The Citi Premier offers a low annual fee and a broad range of earning categories. Citi ThankYou points are increasingly valuable due to some of the best transfer options on the market. At the same time, the Citi Travel Portal offers a multitude of point redemption options. These amazing features and record high sign up bonus make the Citi Premier one of the most underrated entry level travel rewards cards on the market.

The Best Entry Level Travel Rewards Credit Card

The American Express® Gold Card is the best entry level travel rewards credit card. Despite the highest annual fee, the AMEX Gold more than makes up for the cost in earning potential and credits. In fact, the American Express® Gold Card maintains the top rank even if you are unable to use the generous credits. Two factors drive the American Express® Gold Card value: the sign up bonus and strategic earning categories. Currently, the American Express® Gold Card has the most valuable sign up bonus; just ahead of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. In addition, the major earning categories of the American Express® Gold Card, groceries and restaurants, align perfectly with one of the highest discretionary expense categories of the average household. 

The Importance Of The Sign Up Bonus

The sign up bonus is the single most influential factor in determining the best entry level travel rewards credit card. At a sign up bonus of 100,000, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best entry level travel rewards credit card. However, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card drops to second place with a sign up bonus of 80,000 and fourth place with a sign up bonus of 60,000. The incredible value of the sign up bonus is the reason many individuals in the travel rewards universe employ a strategy of chasing sign up bonuses. 

Final Thoughts

While the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card remains an excellent travel rewards credit card, it no longer lays claim to the title of “most valuable.” With that said, the title often shifts towards the credit card with the best sign up bonus. In this case, the American Express® Gold Card holds not only the best sign up bonus, but also the best everyday earning opportunities. If the high annual fee on the American Express® Gold Card gives you pause, the Capital One Venture and Citi Premier are both excellent options.