Beginner Travel Credit Cards: Top Picks for 2024

Choosing the best beginner travel credit cards can feel overwhelming, but the right card can transform your everyday spending into exciting adventures. With nearly 70% of U.S. households holding rewards cards, these powerful financial tools help newcomers earn points, miles, and valuable travel perks with every purchase.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card stands out as an excellent beginner travel credit card, offering 5X points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠ and 3X points on dining. For those just starting their rewards journey, the American Express® Gold Card delivers 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide and 3X points on direct airline bookings. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card keeps things simple with 2X miles on every purchase, making it an ideal beginner-friendly option.

Key Takeaways

• Travel credit cards offer valuable rewards and perks that beginners can easily take advantage of.
• The American Express® Gold Card provides 4X points at restaurants and 3X on flights booked directly with airlines¹.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card users can earn 5X points on travel via Chase Travel℠ and 3X on dining¹.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers 2X miles on all purchases and 5X on select travel bookings without any annual fee¹.
• Choosing the right travel credit card can help you accumulate and redeem points for travel experiences, such as flights and hotels.

Why You Need a Travel Credit Card

Travel credit cards are essential for turning daily spending into travel adventures. They let you earn points or miles on everyday purchases. These points can be used for flights, hotels, and car rentals². They’re perfect for beginners because they offer rewards on common expenses. BONUS: Check out our Credit Card Points for Beginners Guide.

These cards offer flexibility. Unlike specific airline or hotel cards, they let you explore different places. You can visit the Bahamas, Australia, England, and more². They make your regular spending lead to amazing trips.

Travel credit cards also come with welcome bonuses. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card gives 50,000 points after spending $4,000 in three months². Some cards even offer free checked bags, lounge access, and elite status.³

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card has a $450 annual fee but offers a $300 travel credit². The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has a $650 fee but includes 15 Delta Sky Club visits and more³.

It’s important to use travel credit cards wisely. Getting more cards can help your credit score if you manage them well². Paying your cards on time also boosts your credit score².

For beginners, travel credit cards are a great way to start earning travel rewards. Knowing the benefits and terms is key to getting the most out of them³. Beginners can earn big rewards from everyday spending and open up many travel opportunities.

Top Travel Credit Cards for Beginners

When looking at travel credit cards for beginners, some cards really stand out. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great choice. It offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. This can be worth $750 when you use it for travel through Chase⁴.

This card also has flexible rewards. You get 5X points on travel booked through Chase, Lyft rides, and Peloton. Plus, 3X points on dining and streaming services, and 2X points on all other travel purchases. It has a $95 annual fee⁴.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is another excellent choice. It has a big welcome offer of 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. This is worth $750 in travel⁴.

Its rewards are easy to understand. You get 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. And 2X miles on all other purchases. It’s great for beginners⁵.

If you don’t want to pay an annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is perfect. It offers 20,000 miles after spending $500 in the first three months. That’s $200 in travel⁴.

This card also gives 5X miles on hotels and rental cars. And 1.25X miles on all other purchases⁴.

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is another strong contender. It has a welcome offer of 70,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. This can be worth $700 in gift cards or travel rewards⁴.

It offers 10X points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel. Plus, 3X points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations. It’s a great deal for a $95 annual fee⁴.

These travel credit cards are great for beginners. They offer good rewards, sign-up bonuses, and extra benefits. They also have no foreign transaction fees and travel protections. They’re perfect for new travelers looking to get the most out of their rewards and benefits.

Choosing the Right Card for Your Travel Goals

When picking a travel credit card, think about what you want to achieve. For newbies, look at your loyalty, how often you travel, and if you like earning travel rewards. Cards like the Capital One Venture Rewards Card give perks like free checked bags and discounts on flights⁶⁷.

General cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, let you earn points that can be used in many ways. You can transfer points to airline or hotel programs, or book travel through the issuer’s portal⁶.

Start looking for a card early, at least five months before your trip. This way, you can get the most out of sign-up bonuses and earn points. For instance, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months⁷.

Also, look for cards that make up for their annual fees. The Platinum Card® from American Express, for example, offers over $1,500 in benefits despite its $695 annual fee⁶.

Rewards rates are key. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card gives 2X miles on all purchases, making it a great choice without an annual fee⁷. Premium cards like the American Express® Gold Card offer more rewards but come with higher fees, like 60,000 points after spending $6,000 in six months⁷.

Even cards with no annual fees, like the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card, offer big travel rewards. For example, you can earn 60,000 online bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 90 days⁷.

Best No Annual Fee Travel Credit Cards

Starting your travel journey with no-annual-fee credit cards is wise. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a great pick. It gives you 20,000 miles after spending $500 in the first 3 months⁸. Plus, it lets you earn travel rewards easily with Capital One miles⁹.

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is another top choice. It offers rewards on every purchase and lets you use points for any travel expense without limits⁹. You can also get 25,000 online bonus points after spending $1,000 in 90 days, worth $250 for travel⁸. This makes it perfect for beginners.

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is also great. It rewards you in common spending areas like restaurants and travel⁹. This makes it easy to earn points, which is good for beginners.

For students, the Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students card is excellent. It can earn you $466 in rewards after 1 year and $1,528 after 5 years, including the welcome bonus⁸. This makes it easy for students to start earning travel credits.

If you want rewards on rent, consider the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card. It rewards rent payments without extra fees. It also gives bonus points on dining and travel with a few transactions per month⁹.

In short, no-annual-fee credit cards like the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, and Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card are great for beginners. They offer great benefits and rewards to help you start your travel credit journey smoothly.

Maximizing Travel Rewards and Benefits

To get the most from travel credit cards, use them for daily purchases and travel. This way, you can earn points quickly for your next trip. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card gives 2x points on travel and dining¹⁰. The American Express® Gold Card offers 4x points on dining and groceries, helping you earn faster¹⁰.

Being smart about earning points is key. Cards like the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card offer high rewards for certain purchases. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card gives 2x miles on every purchase, rewarding all your spending¹⁰.

Don’t overlook sign-up bonuses. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months¹¹. The American Express® Gold Card’s bonuses can also add up to a lot of travel value¹². Using these bonuses wisely helps you earn points faster.

Also, think about how you can use your points. Some cards offer fixed redemption rates, like 1.25 or 1.5 cents per point¹⁰. Benefits like Priority Pass give you access to over 1,300 airport lounges, making travel better¹⁰.

Using different cards for different purchases is smart. For example, one card might give more points on dining, while another rewards travel bookings. This strategy helps you earn more and use your rewards better¹⁰¹².

Always check if the annual fee is worth it. High fees should be balanced by great benefits like statement credits and high point-earning¹⁰. For instance, the Platinum Card® from American Express offers 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines, making its high fee worth it¹⁰.

Introductory Perks and Bonuses

When picking a travel credit card, the perks and bonuses at the start are key. Cards like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are great for beginners. They offer big welcome bonuses for spending a certain amount early on.

These cards let you earn points or miles fast. This helps you start your journey to earning travel rewards sooner. Some cards even offer bonuses like 60,000 points plus a $300 travel credit for meeting a spending goal¹³.

These bonuses can be used for flights, hotels, and more. This gives you flexibility in how you use your rewards.

Many travel credit cards also have other perks at the start. These include lounge access, travel insurance, and statement credits¹³. These extras make your travel better and add value to your trips.

It’s also important to think about the annual fee. Fees can range from $0 to $695¹³. But, many cards offer great rewards and perks that make the fee worth it.

Look at the reward rates when choosing a card. Cashback rewards can be 1.5% to 6.5% in certain categories¹³. This can really boost your earnings, especially on travel-related spending.

WalletHub’s research shows they looked at 1,745 cards from 371 companies¹⁴. They spent 28 research hours. This ensures the cards they recommend are the best value.

They used two-year cost calculations and spending profiles based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data¹⁴. This gives a full picture of the cards’ monetary value.

Having access to over 1,500 credit card offers and regular reviews helps you make smart choices¹⁴. By picking the right card, you can make your travel better and get the most from your card from the start.

Factors to Consider Before Applying

When applying for a travel credit card, it’s important to think about a few key things. Your credit score is a big deal because it decides if you can get a card and what kind. Make sure to check your credit report and score before you apply.

How you spend money, especially on travel and dining, matters a lot. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card gives you 5 points per $1 spent at the Chase travel portal. It also gives 3 points per $1 on dining and select streaming services¹⁵. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card gives 12 points per $1 spent at Hilton properties and 6 points per $1 at U.S.-based restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations¹⁵.

High rewards and perks are tempting, but think about the annual fees too. Travel credit cards can have fees from $95 to $550 or more¹⁵. For instance, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a $95 annual fee. But, if you get their sign-up bonus and earn 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, it might be worth it¹⁶.

Knowing your travel habits is also important. If you always fly with a certain airline or stay at specific hotels, pick a card that matches. Also, how easy it is to earn and use rewards matters. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is simple, offering 1.5 points per dollar on every purchase and 3 points per dollar spent on eligible travel booked through their travel center¹⁶.

Lastly, think about using introductory perks and bonuses wisely. Apply at least five months before your trip to earn the sign-up bonus and book travel with points¹⁶. Keep an eye out for offers like the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, which gives 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months¹⁵.

Conclusion

Starting your journey with travel rewards is easy. There are many cards for different spending habits and travel dreams. You can find the perfect card for your needs.

Some cards have no annual fee, while others offer big bonuses for spending a lot at first. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card gives 60,000 points with a $95 fee and a $300 travel credit. It’s a great choice for travelers¹⁷.

Other cards like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offer great bonuses and benefits. They can help you save money and have amazing adventures¹⁷.

Remember, keeping good credit habits is key. This includes using your credit wisely and not applying for too many cards. These actions can greatly improve your credit score¹⁸.

By choosing the right travel credit card, you can earn more rewards and travel smoothly. Pick the best card for you and explore the world with confidence.