Why it’s the best no-annual-fee card for travel: The Wells Fargo Propel is a great choice as a first travel credit card. You might not get all the fancy perks that come with some of the more luxe travel cards, but there are some really good options that will help you earn rewards to pay for your next adventure. Introductory fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater, for 120 days from account opening. If you use your card for a lot of small purchases, you’ll also be happy to know you can receive 20% in bonus rewards each time you use your card for at least 20 purchases within a billing period. A couple of cards that consistently offer solid welcome bonuses are the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card*. Secure Website, On Chase's Secure Another perk is the intro 0% APR period, which lasts for 12 months on new purchases. A good overall spending card that allows you to hold a balance on new purchases at 0% Intro APR, pay no annual fee, and still earn at least 1.5% cashback on all purchases. Earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining at restaurants and drugstores, and 1.5% on all other purchases. Not all travel rewards credit cards come with hefty annual fees. Best Personal Loans For Debt Consolidation. With 10,000 bonus miles miles, you may not even have enough to pay for a one-way domestic flight. “No annual fee cards are best for most consumers because — from the get-go — you aren’t having to lay out any money to use these cards,” Clark says. That's like earning 20% back in rewards. We recommend you pay off your balance on time and in full each month. (After the introductory period there's a 14.49% to 24.99% variable APR.) Read our full Chase Freedom Unlimited® review. The Blue Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express is a good starter card for casual Delta fliers to earn Skymiles without paying … Best for hotels: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card Why we like it. If you want to earn travel rewards points and you’re already a Bank of America customer, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card should be on your list. You’ll earn rewards for each dollar you spend, and you could even receive a rewards bonus if you keep enough money on deposit with Bank of America. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card is one of the best travel credit cards because you get 1.5x points on all purchases, you get to earn a solid signup bonus, and you won't pay foreign transaction fees abroad. This bonus offer is higher than other credit cards without an annual fee, and the regular earning rate is much better than you get with many cash back credit cards that only offer 1%. If you are looking for no annual fee and simple cash back, consider the Citi® Double Cash Card. Earn unlimited 1.5x Miles for every dollar spent on all purchases - with no annual fee. You can read more about their methodology here. This card lets you rack up a strong base rate of rewards for each dollar you spend and you can redeem them for cash back, statement credits, gift cards, merchandise or travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. Unemployment‌ ‌Benefits‌ ‌Boost‌ Calculator, See The best travel credit cards often come with annual fees attached. Holly Johnson is a credit card and travel expert with a focus on rewards and loyalty programs and family travel in Europe and the Caribbean. Cardholders can also redeem their miles for cash in the form of a check or account credit, gift cards and more, though rates for these other redemption options vary. Second Stimulus Check Calculator: How Much Will You Receive? Finally, you’ll qualify for 0% Intro APR on purchases for 12 months, followed by a variable APR of 15.49% to 25.49%. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card lets you earn 1.25 miles for each dollar you spend, and you can redeem them to cover travel purchases charged to your credit card. What Exactly Can Be Taken From You In A Lawsuit? She would like to visit every country and try as many different local culinary specialties as possible. Rewards: Earn 3X points for every $1 spent at over 6,900 participating Marriott Bonvoy™ hotels, Earn 2X points for every $1 you spend on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains), Earn 1X point for every $1 you spend on all other purchases. *See rates and fees and our methodology, terms apply. Of course, travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card do have an annual fee, but they provide higher rewards, like its 60,000 point bonus. And the card is even better when you can earn bonus rewards for travel-related purchases. There are also no foreign transaction fees, so you can use this card abroad without the typical 3% fee other cards may charge. 1000 to get a 5% cashback. Plus, earn a $100 statement credit after your first purchase on the Hilton Honors Card within your first 3 months. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students is geared to young adults who are building credit, so it may be easier to qualify for when compared to other travel credit cards. Learn more: CNBC Select's Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card review, 1.5X points per $1 spent on all purchases, 25,000 bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening, which can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases, 0% APR for the first 12 billing cycles on purchases, 3% of each transaction with a $10 minimum. Earn 2X AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services; Earn 2 miles per dollar on groceries and AA purchases, Earn 3X points for every $1 spent at over 6,900 participating Marriott Bonvoy™ hotels, Earn, Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year (then, Regular APR can be high, depending on your credit. Bonus Offer: Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases. The cards that made our ranking are profiled below. We compared each card on a range of features, including travel rewards (points and miles), annual fee, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR, one-time perks, annual perks, redemption rates, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available. Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $500 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. As a Silver Elite, the main hotel benefits you’ll receive include priority late checkout and 10% bonus points on paid stays. If you have expected upcoming expenses that you want to pay for over time, or you're looking to consolidate debt, the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card can help you finance debt without incurring interest charges. Benefits and Drawbacks: The Hilton Honors American Express Card offers robust earning categories that let you earn bonus points in many categories where Americans spend the most. The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card makes it easy to earn 3 points per dollar spent in many categories, and also offers a generous welcome bonus. If you are looking for a solid intro APR offer and frequently spend at US supermarkets, this is the card for you. Note: We didn't calculate the estimated rewards rate for college student credit cards because the focus should be on building good financial habits not optimizing points. You’ll also get 0% Intro APR on purchases for 15 months, followed by a variable APR of 12.99% to 23.99%. This gives you the option to redeem your points for gift cards, merchandise, travel through AmexTravel.com or even transfers to Amex airline and hotel partners. This card doesn’t come with any frequent flyer benefits other than 25% off in-flight purchases. Prior to working for Forbes, she contributed to other leading publications in the credit cards and rewards space. Or you can book new travel reservations through the Capital One Rewards Center. As a cardholder, you’ll also avoid foreign transaction fees on purchases you make abroad and qualify for benefits like travel accident insurance and extended warranties. A good intro into the Hilton world without paying an annual fee, the Hilton Honors Card from American Express brings you a few nice perks. Mile-for-Mile match of all Miles earned the first year, 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*. General purchases include items such as housekeeping supplies, clothing, personal care products, prescription drugs and vitamins, and other vehicle expenses. We then estimated how much the average consumer would redeem over the course of a year, two years and five years, assuming they would attempt to maximize their rewards potential by earning all welcome bonuses offered and using the card for all applicable purchases. Rewards: Earn 1.5 points for each dollar you spend. Bonus Offer: 25,000 bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening - which can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases. Click Here to learn more about the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.. Rewards cards in general, including travel credit cards, typically require good to excellent credit. The rewards program is geared toward travel, and cardholders earn 1.5X points per dollar spent on all purchases. The $300 travel credit this card offers, access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollement in Priority Pass™ Select, up to a $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre ™, and one year complimentary Lyft Pink access (a $199 minimum value) more than offset the annual fee with ease. For a $99 annual fee, the premium version— The JetBlue Plus Card —gives you a richer sign-up bonus (30,000 points for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days) and gives you 6 points per dollar spent on JetBlue flights. Other than having a low monthly income requirement, the AUB Classic Mastercard also allows their cardholders to choose how much they pay and when they can pay their credit card balances. Here are some advantages of cards with an annual fee: Big spenders get big rewards: You may find the annual fee small change compared to the generous and unlimited rewards available from many annual-fee credit cards. However, you won’t pay an annual fee to be a cardholder, so you can keep it for the long-term without worrying about carrying costs. Rewards: Earn 1.25 miles for each dollar you spend. That's the equivalent to $200 in cash. Best no-fee credit card for travel points MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard* You’ll get a free credit score each month and 0% Intro APR on purchases for 12 months (followed by a variable APR of 14.99% to 22.99%), but that’s about it. Benefits and Drawbacks: The Amex Everyday® Card doesn’t offer an extremely high rewards rate, but you do earn double points on up to $6,000 in spending at U.S. supermarkets each year. As you review the chart, think about how you would use the card to earn rewards and what benefits are most important to you. Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card: Earn travel rewards with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. This compensation comes from two main sources. Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue Credit Card, please click here. The 3 points per dollar categories on this card are generous, and they include dining and gas in particular, so you can earn bonus points even when you’re not traveling. for 20 months on balance transfers with no balance transfer fee. And both the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card and the IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card come with annual free nights – … These cards tend to come with fewer perks and lower rewards rates, but they can still make sense if you are fee-averse. No annual fee does not mean no fees at all, though. Everything To Know About Cashier’s Checks, Best Investment Apps For Managing Portfolios, The 5 Best Round-Up Apps For Saving Money. She is also the author of Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You'll Love and the co-founder of ClubThrifty.com. And since it has no foreign transaction fees, it’s also a great card to use when traveling. This card also provides a year of no interest on purchases and balance transfers. Caroline Lupini is the Credit Card and Travel Analyst for Forbes Advisor. Fortunately, you’ll earn double miles on Delta purchases and on dining, the latter of which could help you earn rewards faster if you visit restaurants for sit-down meals or takeout a few times per week. Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. This chart compares their welcome bonus, rewards earning rate, and travel benefits. The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (see rates and fees) card and the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card* are the most commonly known no annual fee airline cards that are open to new applicants. This method also avoids giving an unfair advantage to cards with large welcome bonuses. The 3% foreign transaction fee and a lack of perks will turn off frequent international travelers. Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Card after you use your new Card to make $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Why this is one of the best no-annual-fee cards: Chase Freedom Flex earns varied rewards and charges no annual fee. This card makes sense for a narrow range of people: Casual AA fliers seeking a no-annual-fee card with moderate rewards and with no need to carry a balance. This card’s base rewards rate of 1.5% is generous, and it’s nice you won’t have to keep track of rewards caps or rotating bonus categories to earn a competitive rate. Bonus Offer: Earn 30,000 Bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening with your Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ credit card. We've selected six of the best travel credit cards with no annual fee for you. Unfortunately, the welcome bonus on this card is not worth a lot. This no-annual-fee card also gives cardmembers an unlimited 1.25X miles on all other purchases, making it a solid choice for everyday use. The Amex Everyday® Card from American Express doesn’t charge an annual fee, yet you’ll earn American Express Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to airlines and hotels. Standard Chartered Manhattan Credit Card Review. Bonus Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn a $100 statement credit after your first purchase on the Hilton Honors Card within your first 3 months. Follow Johnson on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. It's a smart entry-level card for travelers who want to earn points in the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program and enjoy Silver Elite status. Plus, earn a $100 statement credit after your first purchase on the Hilton Honors Card within your first 3 months. Our final picks are weighted heavily toward the highest five-year returns, since it's generally wise to hold onto a credit card for years. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed. Are you sure you want to rest your choices? While the five-year estimates we've included are derived from a budget similar to the average American's spending, you may earn a higher or lower return depending on your travel habits. Finally, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® doesn’t charge an annual fee and you’ll qualify for purchase protection against damage and theft and extended warranties for eligible items that come with a manufacturer’s warranty. Bonus Offer: Earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. Benefits and Drawbacks: The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card offers a lower earning rate and welcome bonus than comparable Marriott Bonvoy cards. Cardholders earn 5% back in Uber Cash on all Uber purchases including Uber rides, Uber Eats orders and JUMP bike and scooter rides. You’ll also earn rewards for travel for each dollar spend, as well as a generous welcome bonus. Rewards: Earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining at restaurants and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. 1% cash back is equivalent to 1 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent when combined with a premium Chase card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®. When it comes to redeeming your rewards, you can cash them in for any travel purchase charged to your card at a rate of one cent per point. There’s $0 annual fee, and you can redeem your points for travel and other options. This card has one of the most competitive welcome bonuses available: $100 Uber Cash after spending $500 on purchases in the first 90 days. Why it’s the best credit card for travel credits: The Chase Sapphire Reserve comes with an annual $300 travel credit. Forbes Advisor compared dozens of travel credit cards from all the major issuers to find the best options with no annual fee. Who's this for? The following tips can help you wind up with a card that suits your needs. Best Credit Card in India with No Annual Fee 2021 (Annual Fee waiver Credit Cards) #5. For example, the Hilton Honors Surpass Card from American Express gives you Hilton Gold status in exchange for your $95 annual fee. The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 15.99% – 24.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Not only will you earn points in the Marriott Bonvoy program for each dollar you spend, but you’ll also receive 15 Elite Qualifying Nights each year, which qualifies you for automatic Silver Elite Status. If you're looking for airline perks, lounge benefits and a path to Elite status, it's better to shell out the annual fee to carry one of Delta's premium cards. After that, the APR is 15.49% to 25.49% variable.The Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card offers new users a strong welcome bonus: 20,000 bonus miles after they spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months. After that, the balance transfer fee goes up to 5% for each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5. © 2021 Forbes Media LLC. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. Cardholder benefits you’ll receive include automatic Silver Status, but you can move up to Gold status if you spend at least $20,000 on your credit card within a calendar year. CNBC Select may receive an affiliate commission when you click on the links for products from our partners. There are other American AAdvantage cards that offer higher earning rates and bigger initial bonuses, but each one charges an annual fee every year or at least after the first year. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status through the end of the next calendar year. Editorial Note: Forbes may earn a commission on sales made from partner links on this page, but that doesn't affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card is an excellent fit for those who value simplicity over complicated bonus rewards programs. Bonus Offer: Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Card after you use your new Card to make $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Cardholders can redeem their rewards at any time and at any amount, including when shopping on Amazon. This isn't a good card for balance transfers, however, as the intro APR offer only applies to purchases. The AAdvantage MileUp℠ Mastercard® lets you earn airline miles in the American AAdvantage program with $0 annual fee. Forbes Advisor compared all the top travel credit cards available today to find the best options without an annual fee. 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