Best Travel Credit Cards for 2025 (And How We Use Them)
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All photos in this post were taken by me during our trip. I love capturing real experiences to give you an authentic look at what to expect.
Whether you’re booking flights, reserving hotels, or grabbing snacks at the airport, the right travel credit cards can earn you serious rewards and save you hundreds on travel costs. In this guide, I’m breaking down my top picks for travel credit cards in 2025 – plus tips on how I personally use these travel credit cards to save on trips around the world.
1. Best Beginner Travel Credit Card: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Why I Love It:
- 2x points on travel and dining
- Points are worth 25% more when redeemed through Chase Travel
- No foreign transaction fees
- Easy points transfer to travel partners like Hyatt, United, and more
- Low annual fee compared to premium cards
My Experience:
If you’re just starting out, this is the best credit card in 2025 for travel. This is one of our favorite travel credit cards for booking hotel stays and flights, especially when using transfer partners. Even better is finding a transfer bonus throughout the year, giving you more value (sometimes 25% or more). The travel portal also has a lot of tours and activities to book at a discount. We found the same Whale Watching Tour tickets $30 cheaper in the Chase Travel portal. That really adds up as a family of 4!
We recently opened a new card during their welcome bonus period. We can transfer our points to Hyatt and book a 5-night stay at this Hyatt all-inclusive resort, completely covered with points. Paradise, here we come!
👉 Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred®
2. Best for Everyday Travelers: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Why I Love It:
- 2x miles on every purchase, every day
- No foreign transaction fees
- “Erase” travel purchases with miles
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
- Low $95 annual fee
Best Feature:
This card is very simple to earn points, making it one of the best credit card for travel points 2025. You don’t have to track bonus categories, you just swipe your card and earn 2x points on every purchase. You can “erase” travel purchases with your miles, which we do often. I book using my Venture card through Expedia or Booking.com when they are having a great sale and then erase the purchase with your miles as a statement credit. If you’re paying with cash, the Capital One travel portal often has lower hotel rates. The travel portal also has price predictions for flights which is very helpful when planning trips!
👉 Learn More About the Venture Card
3. Best Premium Option: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Why I Love It:
- 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 5x miles on flights through Capital One Travel
- Unlimited access to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
- $300 annual travel credit + 10,000 anniversary miles = more than covers the $395 annual fee
Why It’s Worth It:
If you travel a few times a year, the lounge access, travel protections, and credits can easily outweigh the fee. Plus, it has one of the best earning structures out there. We love to use the lounge access on our family travels around the world. It saves us so much on airport food and it’s great to have a comfortable place to wait for our flights. Its easy to earn points on everyday purchases as well with their 2x miles on every day purchases. The TSA Pre-check benefits have saved us so much time when traveling.
4. Best for Delta Flyers: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Why I Love It:
- Earn 2x miles on Delta purchases, restaurants, and U.S. supermarkets
- First checked bag free on Delta flights
- Priority boarding
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150
- Redeem miles for free flights with no blackout dates on Delta
My Experience:
This card is a no-brainer if your airport is a Delta hub or has affordable Delta routes, especially if there is a welcome bonus available! We use ours all the time for short-haul domestic flights, often booking entirely with miles. We love the free checked bag and priority boarding that make airport days smoother when traveling with kids or bringing gear.
*Airline-specific travel credit cards aren’t always a good fit, so be sure to check your local airport flight hubs before opening one.
👉 Learn More About the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Amex
How to Choose the Right Travel Credit Cards
When choosing a travel card, ask yourself:
- Do you want flexible rewards or brand-specific perks?
- How often do you travel?
- Are you comfortable paying an annual fee for perks and credits?
- Will you use travel protections or lounge access?
Final Thoughts on Best Credit Card 2025 for Travel
Good travel credit cards are more than just points. They’re peace of mind with travel insurance, perks, and sometimes even a first-class upgrade. I personally use Venture X the most – it fits my travel style and helps stretch our family travel budget. If you’re looking for more ways to save and family travel tips check out our post on our favorite travel resources!
Still not sure which one is right for you? Shoot me a message! I’m happy to help you figure it out!
