When you can’t use points or miles to cover a trip, earning rewards on travel spending is the next best thing. Whether you’re booking a rental car, cruise, tour, rideshare, train tickets or transit, the right credit card can help you rack up points or miles, earn statement credits and unlock travel perks. Most “best travel card” lists focus on flights and hotels, but everything else adds up — here are seven cards that perform well for general travel purchases.
The best credit cards for travel spending
– Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
– American Express® Green Card
– Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card
– Citi Strata Premier® Card
– Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
– Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
– Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Annual fee: $95.
Why we like it: A strong mid-tier travel card with versatile Chase Ultimate Rewards points and broad travel protections.
Earning: 5x on travel booked through Chase Travel; 3x on dining, select streaming and online groceries; 2x on other travel.
Perks: Up to 1.75¢ per point when booking through Chase Travel; excellent transfer partners (e.g., Air Canada Aeroplan, World of Hyatt); $50 annual hotel credit on Chase Travel; 10% points back annually based on card spending; primary rental car insurance and trip delay/cancellation protections.
American Express Green Card
Annual fee: $150.
Why we like it: Strong bonus categories for a mid-tier card focused on travel, transit and dining.
Earning: 3x on travel, transit and dining (including U.S. takeout/delivery); 1x on other purchases.
Perks: Up to $209 annual Clear Plus credit (enrollment required); no foreign transaction fees; broad definition of travel includes transit and short-term vacation rentals.
Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Credit Card
Annual fee: $395.
Why we like it: Excellent rewards on foreign spending and straightforward overseas value.
Earning: 3x on Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines purchases, eligible dining and foreign transactions; 1x on other purchases.
Perks: Rewards international everyday spending (rare among premium cards) and no foreign transaction fees — valuable for frequent travelers abroad.
Citi Strata Premier Card
Annual fee: $95.
Why we like it: Low-fee midlevel card with strong portal bonuses and a range of 3x categories.
Earning: 10x on many travel purchases booked through Citi Travel (excluding air); 3x on air travel, other hotels, gas, EV charging, restaurants and supermarkets; 1x elsewhere.
Perks: Citi ThankYou points can be transferred to airline partners (some useful sweet spots, e.g., Avianca LifeMiles).
Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card
Annual fee: $95.
Why we like it: Simple earnings with meaningful benefits if you’re in Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program.
Earning: 2x on travel and dining; 1.5x on other purchases.
Perks: Redeem points for statement credits, deposits, gift cards or travel at ~1¢ per point; up to $100 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee credit every four years; up to $100 annual airline incidental statement credit; if enrolled in Preferred Rewards, earning rates can increase substantially (e.g., to 3.5x on travel at higher tiers).
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee: $95.
Why we like it: Simplicity and flexibility — consistent earnings on all purchases and the ability to transfer miles.
Earning: 2x miles per dollar on all purchases; 5x on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel.
Perks: Redeem miles for travel at a fixed value or transfer to more than a dozen airline and hotel partners (many transfer 1:1).
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee: $395.
Why we like it: A premium offering with strong travel credits, lounge access and anniversary miles.
Earning and perks: $300 annual travel credit when booking through Capital One Travel; up to $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit; 10,000 anniversary bonus miles; complimentary Capital One lounge access and Priority Pass membership; travel protections including trip cancellation/interruption insurance and rental car coverage. The card’s combination of credits, lounge access and transfer flexibility makes it compelling compared with higher-fee competitors.
Bottom line
Not every travel expense is a flight or hotel. From trains and cruises to meals abroad and airport transfers, these cards can help you earn valuable rewards and enjoy useful perks on general travel purchases. When you can’t pay for a trip with points or miles, make sure you’re earning them with the right card in your wallet.
For Capital One products listed here, some benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product; see the Guide to Benefits for details.
