Blog >> The 10 Best Credit Cards Of December 2024
By Kevin Zanes / July 19, 2024
It is never too late to start earning and redeeming travel rewards.
The best travel credit card is the one which brings your next trip just a little closer every time you use it. 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 Apply: 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 Of September 2024
Here is a quick overview of the best travel credit cards for September 2024, which includes a summary of card details, reward rates, benefits, and more.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Even though the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is one of the newest premium travel rewards cards, it quickly became one of the most popular. The popularity stems from the easy earning structure of 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, an easy to use $300 annual credit (when booking through Capital One Travel), and numerous other benefits (including access to the extremely popular Capital One Lounges). 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 X Rewards Credit Card.
Credit Card Details
- Intro Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Annual Fee: $395
- APR: 19.99% – 29.49% (Variable)
- Recommended Credit: 740-850 (Excellent)*
Reward Rates
- 10x Miles on Hotels and Rental Cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 5x Miles on Flights and Vacation Rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x Miles on All Other purchases
Other Benefits
- $300 back in credit annually (only applicable for bookings made through Capital One Travel portal)
- 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
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: 20.74% – 27.74% 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
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred: A Complete Guide To Benefits
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the most popular and valuable premium travel rewards cards. Despite the high annual fee of $695, the Platinum Card® from American Express offers incredible overall value through various benefits (i.e. hotel status and lounge access), extensive credits up to $1,500 (i.e. hotel, airline, and others), and a high earning opportunity on flight purchases. In addition, cardholders, can redeem American Express Membership Rewards points through the American Express Travel portal or transfer the points to one of the many American Express transfer partners.
Credit. The Points Guy. The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Card Details
- Intro Offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Annual Fee: $695
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Recommended Credit: 670-850 (Good / Excellent)*
- See Rates And Fees
Reward Rates
- 5x on Flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on purchases per calendar year)
- 5x on Prepaid Hotels booked with American Express Travel
- 1x on All Other Purchases
Other Benefits
- Up to $200 Hotel credit (prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel) – requires a minimum two night stay
- Up to $240 Digital Entertainment credit ($20 per month on Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM (ending May 8th, 2024), and The Wall Street Journal)
- Up to $155 Walmart+ credit ($12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership) – Plus up benefits are not eligible
- Up to $200 Airline Fee credit (select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees)
- Up to $200 Uber Cash
- You must download the latest version of the Uber App, add your American Express Platinum Card® to your Uber account, and then pay with any Amex card. The Amex benefit may only be used in United States.
- Up to $300 Equinox credit (on an Equinox membership or an Equinox club membership)
- Up to $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit
- Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit
- Up to $100 Saks Firth Avenue credit
- Complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott
- Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Airspace lounges, Escape lounges, Plaza Premium lounges and Delta Sky Clubs
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% – 29.49% (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.
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.
Credit. The Points Guy. 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
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
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is an excellent all-around business credit card. The value of the card comes from the ability to earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points, a high intro offer, a low annual fee, and four business-relevant bonus categories (travel, shipping, advertising, and telecommunications). In addition, cardholders can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 1.25 cents when booking travel through the Chase Travel portal or transfer the points to one of the many airline and hotel transfer partners.
Credit. The Points Guy. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
Credit Card Details
- Intro Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Annual Fee: $95
- APR: 20.49% – 26.49% Variable
- Recommended Credit: 670-850 (Good / Excellent)*
Reward Rates
- 3x on Travel and Select Business Categories ($150,000 limit per year)
- 1x on All Other purchases
Other Benefits
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the most popular and valuable business travel rewards cards. Despite the high annual fee of $695, the Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers incredible overall value through various benefits (i.e. hotel status and lounge access), extensive credits up to $1,000 (i.e. hotel, airline, technology, and others), and a high earning opportunity on flight and large purchases. In addition, cardholders, can redeem American Express Membership Rewards points through the American Express Travel portal or transfer the points to one of the many American Express transfer partners.
Credit. The Points Guy. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
Card Details
- Intro Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of card membership
- Annual Fee: $695
- APR: 18.74% – 27.74% Variable
- Recommended Credit: 670-850 (Good / Excellent)*
- See Rates And Fees
Reward Rates
- 5x on Flights booked through American Express Travel
- 5x on Prepaid Hotels booked with American Express Travel
- 1.5x on each eligible purchase at US Construction Material, Hardware Suppliers, Electronic Goods Retailers, Software & Cloud System Providers, and Shipping Providers
- 1.5x on purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year)
- 1x on All Other Purchases
Other Benefits
- Up to $200 Hotel credit (prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel) – requires a minimum two night stay
- Up to $400 Dell credit ($200 semi-annually) – enrollment required
- Up to $360 Indeed credit ($90 per quarter) – enrollment required
- Up To $150 Adobe credit – enrollment required
- Up To $120 Wireless credit ($10 per month) – enrollment required
- Up to $200 Airline Fee credit (select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees)
- Up to $199 CLEAR® Plus credit
- Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit
- Complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott
- Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Airspace lounges, Escape lounges, Plaza Premium lounges and Delta Sky Clubs
American Express® Business Gold Card [Elevated Offer]
The American Express® Business Gold Card is a solid choice for businesses with high spend, but want to maintain flexibility. The card offers a 4x earning in the two highest spend categories each month (up to $150,000 in combined purchases per calendar year) and is ideal for businesses who value simplicity. However, this flexibility comes at the cost of a relatively high annual fee. In addition, cardholders, can redeem American Express Membership Rewards points through the American Express Travel portal or transfer the points to one of the many American Express transfer partners.
Credit. The Points Guy. American Express® Business Gold Card.
Card Details
- Intro Offer: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first 3 months of card membership
- Annual Fee: $375
- APR: 18.74% – 27.74% Variable
- Recommended Credit: 670-850 (Good / Excellent)*
- See Rates And Fees
Reward Rates
- 4x on the 2 categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle from 6 eligible categories (up to $150,000 in combined purchases per calendar year)
- 3x on Flights and Prepaid Hotels booked with American Express Travel
- 1x on All Other Purchases
Other Benefits
- Up to $240 in statement credits ($20 per month) after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores in the United States
- Up to $155 in statement credits ($12.95 per month) when you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal)
- Choose the color that suits your style: Gold, Rose Gold, or White Gold (new)
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best premium travel rewards cards on the market. The value of the card comes from the ability to earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points, a generous travel credit, and a host of other impressive benefits (i.e. lounge access and travel protection). In addition, cardholders can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 1.50 cents when booking travel through the Chase Travel portal or transfer the points to one of the many airline and hotel transfer partners.
Credit. The Points Guy. Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Credit Card Details
- Intro Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Annual Fee: $550
- APR: 21.74% – 28.74% Variable
- Recommended Credit: 740-850 (Excellent)*
Reward Rates
- 10x on Hotels and Car Rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠
- 5x on Flights when you purchase through Chase Travel℠
- 3x on Other Travel and Dining
- 1x on All Other purchases
Other Benefits
- Get 50% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
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Premium travel protection benefits including trip cancellation insurance, primary car rental insurance, and lost luggage insurance
Related: Chase Sapphire Reserve: A Complete Guide To Benefits
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 (or second or third) travel rewards card. There is truly something for everyone. For those who value simplicity and low annual fees, 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 own a small business, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card or American Express® Business Gold Card will help you scale. 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.