6 of the best credit cards for travel purchases — beyond flights and hotels
Editor's Note
When you can't use points or miles to cover a trip, earning rewards on your travel spending is the next best thing. Whether you're booking a rental car, cruise or tour, the right credit card can help you rack up points or miles, earn statement credits and unlock valuable travel perks.
Most "best travel credit card" lists focus heavily on flights and hotels — and for good reason, as those purchases typically make up the bulk of travel spending. But what about everything else? Rides to and from the airport, train tickets, city transit, cruises and third-party bookings can add up, and they deserve their own spotlight.
Here are the best credit cards for travel purchases (beyond flights and hotels).
The best credit cards for travel spending
The best card for your travel spending depends on whether you value transferable rewards, flat-rate earnings or elevated bonus categories.
- Best no-annual-fee card for travel spending: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card (see rates and fees)
- Best overall travel card: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees)
- Best for maximizing bonus categories: Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees)
- Best for broad travel and transit spending: American Express® Green Card
- Best for international everyday spending: Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card
- Best for everyday travel spending: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: How to pick the right travel credit card for you
Wells Fargo Autograph Card
Annual fee: $0
Why we like it: The Wells Fargo Autograph is one of the strongest no-annual-fee cards for travelers, thanks to its broad bonus categories and flexible rewards structure. It's especially appealing for travelers who want to earn elevated rewards on a variety of everyday and travel purchases without paying an annual fee.
This card earns:
- 3 points per dollar spent on dining (includes takeout, catering and food delivery services)
- 3 points per dollar spent on travel (airfare, hotels, car rentals, cruises and more)
- 3 points per dollar spent at gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations
- 3 points per dollar spent on transit, eligible streaming services and phone plans
- 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases
The Autograph card's broad travel and transit categories make it a great option for purchases that often fall outside traditional travel rewards categories, such as ride-hailing services, parking, tolls and public transportation.
Cardholders can also redeem Wells Fargo Rewards points for travel, cash rewards, gift cards and more. Plus, Wells Fargo has transfer partners as part of its rewards ecosystem, giving travelers additional flexibility when redeeming points for future trips.
To learn more, read our full review of the Wells Fargo Autograph Card.
Apply here: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Annual fee: $95
Why we like it: With a modest $95 annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is an attractive option for travelers looking to earn valuable rewards on a variety of travel and everyday purchases.
This card earns:
- 5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Travel℠
- 3 points per dollar spent on dining
- 3 points per dollar spent on select streaming services
- 3 points per dollar spent on online groceries (excluding Target®, Walmart® and wholesale clubs)
- 2 points per dollar spent on other travel purchases
With this card, you'll earn up to 1.75 cents per point when booking through Chase Travel (see your rewards program agreement for full details). Still, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are extremely valuable when transferred to partners such as Air Canada Aeroplan and World of Hyatt.
The card also offers a $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through Chase Travel, helping cardholders recoup more than half of the card's annual fee each year.
Finally, the Sapphire Preferred also provides primary car insurance when you're renting vehicles, which is a fantastic benefit if you don't want to rely on your auto insurance to cover you and drive up your premiums if an accident happens, as well as other travel protections such as trip delay insurance and trip cancellation insurance.
To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Citi Strata Premier Card
Annual fee: $95
Why we like it: With a modest $95 annual fee, the Citi Strata Premier is a strong option for travelers who want elevated rewards across a variety of everyday spending categories and travel purchases.
This card earns:
- 10 ThankYou points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
- 3 points per dollar spent on air travel
- 3 points per dollar spent at restaurants
- 3 points per dollar spent at supermarkets
- 3 points per dollar spent at gas stations and EV charging stations
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Beyond traditional airfare and hotel purchases, the card's bonus categories also make it useful for everyday travel-related spending, including road trips, dining while traveling and transportation expenses.
Once you've earned Citi ThankYou Rewards points with this card, you can transfer points to Citi's travel partners, including Avianca LifeMiles, for additional value and flexibility when booking future trips.
For more information, read our full review of the Citi Strata Premier Card.
Apply here: Citi Strata Premier Card
American Express Green Card
Annual fee: $150
Why we like it: The Amex Green is a strong mid-tier option for travelers thanks to its broad travel and transit bonus categories.
This card earns:
- 3 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.)
- 3 points per dollar spent on travel and transit
- 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases
This card's travel bonus category includes a wide range of purchases, such as transit and short-term vacation rental website purchases, in addition to traditional airfare and hotel spending.
The card also offers an annual Clear+ membership credit of up to $209 (after you sign up and pay for a Clear+ membership, subject to auto-renewal) and does not charge foreign transaction fees. Enrollment is required.
To learn more, read our full review of the American Express Green Card.
Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite credit card
Annual fee: $395
Why we like it: The Atmos Rewards Summit card stands out for its stellar rewards on foreign purchases, which is a rare benefit among premium travel cards.
This card earns:
- 3 points per dollar spent on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases
- 3 points per dollar spent on eligible dining purchases
- 3 points per dollar spent on foreign transactions
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
That earning rate of 3 points per dollar spent on foreign transactions is where this card truly shines. Most cards exclude international spending from bonus categories, but the Atmos Rewards Summit card rewards travelers for their everyday purchases abroad.
If you frequently dine, shop or book travel overseas, this card delivers outstanding value and simplicity — all without foreign transaction fees.
To learn more, read our full review of the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite.
Apply here: Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite credit card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee: $395
Why we like it: The Capital One Venture X is a great option for travelers who want to earn strong rewards on everyday travel purchases without worrying about bonus categories.
This card earns:
- 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 5 miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases
The flat-rate earning structure makes the Venture X especially useful for miscellaneous travel expenses that may not qualify for bonus rewards with other cards, such as ride-hailing services, cruises, train tickets, parking and tolls.
The card also comes with several premium travel perks, including a $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel, 10,000 bonus miles each account anniversary and complimentary access to Capital One lounges and participating Priority Pass lounges.
Additionally, Capital One miles can be transferred to more than 15 airline and hotel partners, giving travelers flexibility when redeeming rewards for future trips.
To learn more, read our full review of the Capital One Venture X.
Learn more: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Bottom line
Not every trip expense fits neatly into the "flights and hotels" box — and that's where these cards shine. From train rides and cruises to meals abroad and rides back to your hotel, the right travel credit card can help you earn valuable rewards on every step of your journey.
So, when you can't pay for your next adventure with points or miles, make sure you're earning them with the right card in your wallet.
Related: 7 of the best starter travel credit cards
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.