Top Credit Cards for Travel Rewards

According to recent surveys, the average American holds six different credit cards in their wallet.  If you’re wondering why Americans carry so many, the reason is quite simple.  Some cards offer better perks and rewards on specific purchases and if a cardholder is disciplined in using credit cards, the rewards and cash back that can be earned is quite substantial.  Taking a look at one of those specific purchase categories, owning a travel rewards credit card will not only earn you valuable rewards but also offer you extreme convenience.

Regardless of whether or not your an experienced or amateur traveler, acquiring a travel rewards credit card for all of your traveling purchases is essential.  The convenience of paying for everything on one credit card while earning a high caliber of perks and rewards will only increase the value of your card over time.  To help you out, we’ve compiled the best travel rewards credit cards and have dissected them to show their pros and cons.  If you have any experiences with these cards, good or bad, we’d love to know what they are.  Please feel free to leave your comments below.

Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express – Regarded by many as their favorite travel rewards credit card, the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express was awarded the Smarter Travel Editor’s Choice Award for Best Travel Awards Card for Domestic Use. This card offers cardholders the chance to earn up to 25,000 bonus Starpoints® – 10,000 after your first purchase and another 15,000 after you spend $5,000 within the first 6 months of Cardmembership. That’s enough for a weekend getaway to a Category 4 Hotel like the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, or six free nights at a Category 2 Hotel. There are no limits on the number of Starpoints you can earn. There is a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $65. Terms and Restrictions apply.

Citi ThankYou® Preferred Rewards Card. For a limited time, you can earn a $150 gift card when you redeem the 15,000 bonus ThankYou® Points received after making $1,000 in purchases within 3 months of account opening. Cardholders earn 1 ThankYou Point for every $1 spent on all purchases. Points never expire and there is no limit on the points you can earn. Cardholders can redeem ThankYou Points for merchandise, travel rewards, gift cards, cash and more. The best part – No annual fee*. This card also features a smart chip, which is great for the global traveler. You can read our full Citi ThankYou Preferred Rewards Card Review for more information.

Blue Sky from American Express – The Blue Sky from American Express features a rewards structure that values points more than any other.  New cardholders earn 7,500 bonus points when they spend $1,000 within the first 3 months, which can be redeemed for a $100 statement credit. Cardholders will earn one point on every dollar spent, no matter the purchase.  There are no restrictions or blackout dates for your travel rewards and your points are redeemable for travel with any airline, hotel, cruise, car rental and travel package – with no blackout dates. If you need an intro APR, the Blue Sky from American Express is your card because it comes with a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months. There is no annual fee for this card.

“Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of American Express, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through American Express Affiliate Program.”