Blog >> The Best Credit Cards For Beginners
By Kevin Zanes / March 11, 2024
It is never too late to start earning and redeeming travel rewards.
If you tend to spend money on everyday expenses such as dining at restaurants, shopping at supermarkets, and filling your car with gas, you might as well earn some points and miles which can help offset the cost of future travel. Thankfully, there are a number of travel rewards card options, each with their own travel perks to suit your specific needs. Many cards come with a set of unique earning categories, significant sign up bonuses, specific travel benefits and insurance, and the ability to transfer points to airline and hotel travel partners. Despite the annual fee on most cards, the benefits far outweigh the cost.
Before You Start: Know Your Credit Score
If you are new to travel rewards and credit in general, it is a good idea to check your credit score before applying for a credit or charge card. That way, you will be able to apply for travel rewards cards which align with both your credit score and your travel goals.
Credit. Time. Credit Score Chart.
Credit Scores are shown numerically and range from 300 (Poor) to 850 (Excellent / Perfect). While there are a number of credit agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) and credit scores (FICO and VantageScore), generally, scores above 750 are considered excellent*. While some agencies charge for a credit report, there are a number of “free” options as well:
- Personal Bank
- Credit Karma
- Annual Credit Report
Related: Credit Scores 101: Everything You Need to Know
The Best Travel Credit Cards For Beginners
Here is a quick overview of the best travel rewards cards for beginners, which includes a summary of card details, reward rates, benefits, and more.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most popular travel rewards credit cards on the market and has long been the standard as one of the best travel rewards cards for beginners. The value of the card comes from the ability to earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points, a relatively low annual fee, and a host of benefits. In addition, cardholders can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 1.25 cents when booking travel through Chase Travel℠ or transfer the points to one of the many airline and hotel transfer partners.
Credit. The Points Guy. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
Credit Card Details
- Intro Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Annual Fee: $95
- APR: 20.99% – 27.99% Variable
- Recommended Credit: 670-850 (Good / Excellent)*
Reward Rates
- 5x on Travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 5x on Lyft purchases (through March 31st, 2025)
- 3x on Dining, select Streaming Services, and Online Groceries
- 2x on All Other Travel purchases
- 1x on All Other purchases
Other Benefits
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠
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Premium travel protection benefits including trip cancellation insurance, primary car rental insurance, and lost luggage insurance
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Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
In the complex world of award travel, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card stands out due its simplicity. Cardholders will earn 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, which eliminates the need to memorize various bonus categories. Outside the simple earning structure, the card comes with a relatively low annual fee, and multiple benefits (including a Global Entry credit). In addition, cardholders have the option to get reimbursed for travel purchases with Capital One Miles or utilize one of the many transfer partner options.
Credit. The Points Guy. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Credit Card Details
- Intro Offer: Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- Annual Fee: $95
- APR: 19.99% – 29.74% Variable
- Recommended Credit: 670-850 (Good / Excellent)*
Reward Rates
- 5x Miles on Hotels, Vacation Rentals, and Rental Cars (booked through Capital One Travel)
- 2x Miles on All Other purchases
Other Benefits
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card launched in 2024 with a healthy set of earning opportunities in key travel categories; on par with premium travel rewards cards, but without the cost. Cardholders are able to earn 5x on Hotels, 4x on Airlines, and 3x on Restaurants and Other Travel purchases and enjoy benefits such as travel insurance and cell phone protection. In addition, Wells Fargo recently announced the ability to transfer Wells Fargo Rewards points to various transfer partners.
Credit. The Points Guy. Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card.
Credit Card Details
- Intro Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
- Annual Fee: $95
- APR: 21.24%, 26.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
- Recommended Credit: 670-850 (Good / Excellent)*
Reward Rates
- 5x on Hotels
- 4x on Airlines
- 3x on Restaurants
- 3x on Other Travel
- 1x on Other purchases
Other Benefits
- 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
Citi Premier® Card
The Citi Premier® Card is one of the most underrated travel rewards credit cards for beginners. The value of the card comes from the broad range of earning categories, which cover the major expenses for the average household (i.e. supermarkets, restaurants, gas stations, and travel), for a relatively modest annual fee of $95. In addition, cardholders can redeem Citi ThankYou points through the Citi Travel portal or transfer the points to one of many Citi transfer partners.
Credit. The Points Guy. Citi Premier® Card.
Credit Card Details
- Intro Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- Annual Fee: $95
- APR: 21.24% – 29.24% Variable
- Recommended Credit: 670-850 (Good / Excellent)*
Reward Rates
- 3x at Gas Stations
- 3x on Air Travel and Other Hotels
- 3x at Restaurants
- 3x at Supermarkets
- 1x on All Other purchases
Other Benefits
- For a limited time earn 10 points per $1 dollar spent on hotels, car rentals, attractions (excluding air travel) when book through Citi Travel portal through June 30, 2024
- $100 annual hotel savings benefit (on single hotel stay bookings of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, booked through thankyou.com)
Note: Citi Premier is no longer available for new applicants.
American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card is one of the most valuable travel rewards cards for beginners. Despite the high annual fee, the American Express® Gold Card offers incredible overall value through high earning opportunities on key categories (dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets) and a host of monthly credits. In addition, cardholders can redeem American Express Membership Rewards points through the American Express Travel portal or transfer the points to one of many American Express transfer partners.
American Express® Gold Card.
Card Details
- Intro Offer: 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
- Annual Fee: $325
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Recommended Credit: 670-850 (Good / Excellent)*
- See Rates And Fees
Reward Rates
- 4x at Restaurants (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X)
- 4x at U.S. Supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X)
- 3x on Flights (booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com)
- 2x on prepaid Hotels and Other Eligible Purchases (booked on amextravel.com)
- 1x on All Other purchases
Other Benefits
- Up to $120 Uber Cash ($10 per month credit)
- You must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit. The Amex benefit may only be used in United States.
- Up to $120 Dining Credit ($10 per month credit)
- Up to $100 Resy Credit ($50 semi-annually) – United States Restaurants only
- Up to $84 Dunkin’ Donuts Credit ($7 per month credit) – United States locations only
- Get up to a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel
- Choose the color that suits your style: Gold or Rose Gold
BILT Mastercard®
The BILT Mastercard® is one of the most unique, and potentially valuable, travel rewards cards on the market. The card is unique in that it allows cardholders to earn rewards on rent payments without being charged a transaction fee. However, the card also comes with a host of impressive point earning opportunities in key spend categories. In addition, the BILT Rewards program offers numerous promotions (i.e. double points on “Rent Day”), an impressive list of transfer partners, and transfer bonus multipliers (up to 150%) based on status. These benefits are what make the BILT Mastercard® attractive to beginners, even if they do not pay rent each month.
Credit. The Points Guy. Bilt Mastercard®.
Credit Card Details
- Intro Offer: No Offer
- Annual Fee: $0
- APR: 21.49% – 29.49% Variable
- Recommended Credit: 670-850 (Good / Excellent)*
Reward Rates*
- 3x on Dining
- 2x on Travel
- 1x on Rent (on up to 100,000 points each calendar year)
- 1x on All Other purchases
* Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points.
Other Benefits
- Earn double points on Dining (boosted to 6 points per dollar), Travel (4 points per dollar) and Everyday Spending (2 points per dollar) for each purchase made on the first day of the month (aka “Rent Day”)
- Premium travel protection benefits including trip delay, interruption, and cancelation insurance
- Receive auto coverage for covered damages due to collision or theft for most rental cars
- Get a $5 Lyft credit when you take 3 rides in one calendar month
Final Thoughts
The most important step in the travel rewards journey is the first. Given the numerous options, there are no “wrong” answers when choosing your first travel rewards card, as there is truly something for everyone. For those who value simplicity, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a perfect option. For those who love food, the American Express® Gold Card is a delicious choice. For those who pay rent in New York City or Los Angeles, the Bilt Mastercard® is uniquely positioned to maximize value. Regardless of where you start, with a travel rewards card, you will be well on your way to covering the cost of you next well-deserved vacation with points and miles.
*Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
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.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.