Great Alternatives
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a really solid alternative to the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card if you don’t want to pay an annual fee. But if you’re willing to pay more money for luxury and insurance benefits, consider the American Express® Gold Card.
If you frequently fly Southwest, you might be a good fit for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card. And if you like Marriott, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase is a great fee-free option for booking more nights in Europe for less.
Specifically for business travel, we love the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
Best overall: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Apply Now
On the Secure Website
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- 5X points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 3X points per dollar on dining, select streaming, and online grocery purchases
- 2X points per dollar on all other travel purchases
- 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
- 10% annual points boost
- Complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription
- 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- Excellent credit score required
Features
- 1:1 point transfer to 14 travel partners
- Travel assistance services
It should come as no surprise that we chose the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card as our top pick for European-bound travelers. This piece of metal is one of the best international credit cards out there, handing out flexible rewards points liberally and piling on the travel perks. It offers a generous welcome bonus, charges no foreign transaction fees, and gives you valuable points that can be redeemed for anything from travel to cash.
With this card, you’ll earn up to 5X points per dollar spent on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, plus a 10% anniversary boost. Chase credit cards are widely accepted in Europe, so you shouldn’t have any issues getting rewards for your spending while you’re there.
While we do wish this card came without the annual fee, this is one of those cases where it’s actually well worth paying. Most people should be able to earn enough points to cancel out the annual fee without much effort at all, between all the free travel benefits and statement credits alone. Trip cancellation/interruption insurance, emergency assistance services, and auto rental collision damage waivers are just a few complimentary perks that come with being a cardholder.
Most applicants need excellent credit to qualify, meaning a credit score of at least 750. You won’t necessarily be rejected with a lower score, but your chances won’t be as good.
Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can be redeemed at a 1:1 rate through 14 different hotel and airline partner loyalty programs. These include Marriott Bonvoy®, World of Hyatt®, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®, United MileagePlus®, and more. Points are worth 25% more when you use them to redeem travel purchases through Chase’s portal or pay yourself back for eligible purchases such as Airbnb stays. You can also redeem them for a statement credit, gift card, or cash, though the value is lower for these categories.
Right now, this credit card is offering a signup bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. If you have the credit to qualify and see a partner loyalty program you’re a part of, think about applying for this card.
Best for travel benefits: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Apply Now
On the Secure Website
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2 miles per dollar on all purchases
- Up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Lounge access through Partner Lounge Network
- 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- Excellent credit score required
Features
- 1:1 point transfer to 15+ travel partners
- Complimentary Concierge Services
Second place by a razor-thin margin, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a tough one to beat. This combines travel and everyday rewards in one reasonably-priced package.
This card also piles on the freebies. We’re talking about up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, a great perk that can save you hours at airport security every year and make up for the first year’s annual fee on its own, and lounge access through the Partner Lounge Network for two free lounge visits a year.
You’ll earn up to 5 miles on travel and can redeem your miles for plane tickets, hotel stays, statement credits, and more. If you use them to purchase travel through Capital One Travel, they’re worth one cent each. You can also transfer your miles to 15+ Capital One travel loyalty programs like British Airways Executive Club, Aeroplan®, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Virgin Red, and more.
This card is nice because you don’t really have to worry about maximizing your spending in different purchase categories to get the most miles possible. If you travel regularly enough to use the miles and want to rack up the rewards through your regular, everyday spending, this is the perfect way to do it. The only downsides are the annual fee and credit requirements. You’ll need a score in the good to excellent range to qualify, meaning at least 700.
Currently, the Capital One Venture Rewards card offers 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. Choosing between this card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card comes down to which travel portal you prefer – Capital One Travel or Chase Ultimate Rewards® – and which loyalty programs you use.
Best for everyday rewards: Citi Premier® Card
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- 3X points per dollar on hotel and air travel purchases
- 3X points per dollar at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations
- 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
- $100 annual hotel credit
- 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months of account opening. Redeemable for $600 in gift cards.
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- Good to excellent credit score required
Features
- 1:1 point transfer to 16 travel partners
For our second runner-up, we’re featuring the Citi Premier® Card. With this card, rewards points or ThankYou® Points are easy to get whether you’re at home or abroad. This is why this is one of our favorite travel credit cards for earning everyday rewards.
The Citi Premier® Card is a great choice for those looking for a versatile travel rewards credit card. Compared to the others, you’ll earn more points on your everyday spending mentioned and have more flexibility when traveling because you aren’t required to use Citi’s portal to earn 3X points, but this card has fewer travel benefits like insurance and warranties.
You’ll have plenty of options for how to redeem your Citi Premier® Card points. In addition to redeeming points for travel through the Citi ThankYou® Travel Center at a rate of one cent per point, you can also transfer them to one of Citi’s 16 airline or hotel partners. These include Singapore Airlines, JetBlue TrueBlue®, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Wyndham Rewards, and others. For most of these, you’re looking at a 1:1 points transfer. For Choice Privileges® each Citi point may be worth more than one partner point.
This card comes with a $100 annual hotel savings benefit that can be redeemed on any eligible stay that costs $500 or more. To qualify, you need to book through thankyou.com and use your Citi Premier® Card to prepay the full price of the stay.
But again, we have to mention that pesky annual fee of, you guessed it, $95 like the others. Also like the others, this card requires good to excellent credit.
Right now, new cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months of account opening. Redeemable for $600 in gift cards.. (Are you starting to see a pattern?). This card is probably only the best option for you if you want to be able to purchase travel anywhere, but you could earn more travel points per dollar with a different card.
Other solid options
Not seeing a card you like yet? Here are other travel credit cards we considered that also offer top-notch travel benefits and rewards you’re going to want to use on your trip to Europe.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Apply Now
On the Secure Website
Pros
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- 1.25 miles per dollar you spend on all purchases
- 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 40,000 bonus miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- 0% intro APR for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers (after that an APR of 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable) applies). There is a 3% balance transfer fee.
Cons
- Good to excellent credit required
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is like a lite version of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. It offers many of the same benefits, plus earn 40,000 bonus miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening, no foreign transaction fees, and no annual fee. However, it comes with a lower earning rate of 1.25 miles per dollar on all purchases instead of 2 miles. And like its partner card, this credit card requires a good to excellent credit score.
This card is best for those who are looking for a travel rewards credit card that’s easy to earn miles for and who don’t want to pay an annual fee.
American Express Gold Card
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- 4X points per dollar at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets
- 3X points per dollar on flights
- 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
- $120 dining credit ($10 statement credit per month)
- UP to $100 experience credit for stays within The Hotel Collection
- 90,000 point sign-up bonus when you spend $4,000 on qualifying purchases in the first six months
Cons
- $250 annual fee
- Good to excellent credit required
- High variable APR (20.24% to 27.24%)
The American Express Gold Card isn’t our first pick because of its steep annual fee, but if you use all of the benefits available to you, you should be able to make your money back pretty easily. This is another credit card that kind of has the best of both worlds. It offers great everyday rewards and travel rewards including complimentary travel insurance and travel statement credits as well as benefits for your regular spending like dining credits and pay-over-time planning. Rewards are easy to redeem and you’ll earn 3X points per dollar on all flights, not just those booked through Amex Travel. You’ll also have twice as much time to try to earn that welcome bonus as the average card gives. If you like American Express and think you’ll take full advantage of the statement credits, this is an excellent and competitive card. But certain parts of Europe don’t accept Amex yet.
Read more: Are Amex cards worth it?
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Pros
- 2X points per dollar on Southwest Airlines purchases and Rapid Rewards® hotel stays and car rentals
- 2X points per dollar on local transit and rideshares, internet, and select streaming
- 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
- 25% back on Southwest Airlines inflight purchases (for beverages and WiFi)
- 3,000 annual points bonus
- Two complimentary EarlyBird Check-Ins per year
- Two free checked bags on all Southwest flights
- No change fees
- 50,000 points sign-up bonus when you spend $1,000 on qualifying purchases in the first three months
Cons
- $69 annual fee
- Good to excellent credit required
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is a great choice for those who often book flights with Southwest Airlines. With this card, you’ll earn 2X points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases as well as Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partner purchases. You’ll also get 1X points per dollar on everything else, which isn’t great but also isn’t bad. This is a card you would most likely want to use for flying and flying only. It has a $69 annual fee that you’ll quickly earn back with the free checked bags and early check-ins.
If you’re not interested in flying Southwest or only travel on occasion, this isn’t the card for you. There are other cards with no annual fees and more flexible rewards programs, but this niche card could save you serious money if you’re smart about using it.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase
Pros
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- 3X points per dollar on Marriott Bonvoy® hotel stays
- Earn another 10X points per dollar on Marriott Bonvoy® hotel stays if you’re a Marriott Bonvoy® member (plus an additional 1X points per dollar if you’re a Silver Elite member)
- 2X points per dollar on all other travel
- 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
- 15 elite night credits per year, which would qualify you for Silver Elite status if fulfilled
- 30,000 point sign-up bonus when you spend $1,000 on qualifying purchases in the first three months
Cons
- Good to excellent credit required
As the largest hotel brand in the world, you’ll have no trouble finding Marriott locations in just about any part of Europe. And not only is Marriott everywhere, but the Marriott Bonvoy® program is notorious for being better than most other hotel loyalty programs. With great transfer rates to airlines and minimal barriers to elite status, Marriott Bonvoy® is worth taking a minute to join and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card is worth signing up for.
But if you never stay in Marriott properties (which is pretty unlikely, but possible), you really wouldn’t need this card. And this card is not ideal for everyday spending and earning.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Apply Now
On the Secure Website
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- 3X points per dollar on shipping, advertising, internet and phone, and travel purchases on the first $150,000 per year (combined across these spending categories)
- 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
- 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening. That’s $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel rewards when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Cons
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a great choice for business travel rewards. With this credit card, you’ll earn 3X points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases across several common expense categories including travel. Points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. This card costs $95 a year, but for the amount of travel insurance that comes with it and for the fact that you can add employee cards for free, this is worth it.
If you travel to Europe on business, think about signing up for this card before your next trip. Just know that this card doesn’t come with any statement credits for hotels or flights.
What is a travel rewards credit card?
A travel rewards credit card is a type of credit card that offers points or miles on your spending. You can use these points or miles to book travel, transfer them to travel partners and use them within those programs, get discounts on travel expenses, or redeem them for cash or cash equivalents (like gift cards).
The idea behind this kind of card is that it makes your life easier (and cheaper) when you’re traveling. You can avoid annoying fees on international purchases and save on travel while enjoying benefits you might not otherwise be willing to pay for like insurance and protection.
Travel rewards credit cards usually come with annual fees, but the benefits they offer can outweigh the costs.
Types of travel rewards credit cards
There are a few different types of travel rewards credit cards, each with unique features and benefits. Here’s a quick rundown of the three main categories.
Airline miles credit cards
Airline cards earn you miles that can be redeemed for flights on specific airlines and their partners. Many airline cards come with perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, complimentary food and beverage, early check-in, no blackout dates, and cardmember-exclusive flight deals and promotions. These cards are co-branded between a card issuer like Chase or American Express and an airline.
This type of card is ideal for frequent flyers who are loyal to one airline.
Hotel credit cards
Hotel cards earn you points when you stay at specific hotels that can be redeemed for future hotel stays, other types of travel, or cash, depending on the card. Extra benefits of these cards might include free early or late checkout, complimentary room upgrades when available, free Wi-Fi, and access to exclusive member rates.
If you often find yourself staying in hotels for work or leisure, a hotel credit card could be a good way to travel more comfortably and get free nights. But like airline cards, you’ll want to choose a hotel card with a brand you know for sure you like and choose regularly.
Read more: The best hotel credit cards
General travel credit cards
General travel credit cards are the most common type of travel card.
These might not come with as many perks as airline or hotel cards, but they offer more flexibility in how you can earn and use your points. They may earn points or miles, usually on both travel and everyday spending with some restrictions on what types of travel count and how you have to book it to earn rewards. You can often redeem points for any type of travel expense including flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and even rideshares likeUber and Lyft. Depending on the credit card, you might be able to redeem points for cash, statement credits, or gift cards too.
Very often, general travel cards also give you the option to transfer your points to a partner loyalty program with a hotel or airline, generally at a 1:1 rate or better. This is important if you’re a loyalty member with any frequent flyer or frequent guest programs because this is a way to score points for these accounts without needing to sign up for a co-branded credit card that’ll have more restrictive earning requirements.
You want to pay really close attention to which transfer partners each card has as this can help you decide which is best for you if you’re between a couple of choices. For example, if you fly United Airlines a few times a year, you might choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card instead of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card because Capital One doesn’t partner with United.
There are many different travel rewards credit cards available within each of these categories, so it’s important to compare them before you decide which one is right for you. A little bit later on, we’ll go over the top things you should be considering when you’re applying for a credit card to take on your next European adventure or even weekend getaway.
What kind of travel card is right for you?
The best travel rewards credit card for you will depend on your individual spending habits, travel goals, travel preferences, and where you live. If you travel a ton, you’ll probably get the most out of a card that offers bonus points for travel-related expenses like airfare and hotels. If you don’t travel much in a year, you may be better off with one that offers general rewards that can be redeemed for travel or cash back for the few times you do go places.
If you’re looking for flexibility, a general travel credit card is your best bet. These have fewer restrictions on how you can earn and redeem points and more versatile rewards programs.
Airline and hotel credit cards can be easier to qualify for and may have lower annual fees than others, but they require more work to maximize. If you’re willing to put in the time to understand the benefits and you’re willing to go out of your way to book with certain brands, you may be able to save more with a co-branded card.
How to choose the best international rewards credit card
To find the best card for international travel whether you’re going to Europe or Tokyo, you need to consider a variety of factors outside of just the rewards. Annual fees, redemption flexibility, transfer partners, and travel benefits should also be used to decide if a card is a good fit not just for now but for the future. Sometimes, bonus offers and high earnings rates are distracting.
Here are a few features to look at to choose the right card for you and find one that checks all (or, more likely, most) of your boxes.
Travel benefits
The best travel rewards credit cards offer you a variety of benefits that make traveling easier and more affordable. Some are completely unique to one card carrier and others are common across many similar cards. Here are some travel benefits you might find:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Waived baggage fees
- Credit toward or reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Hotel loyalty programs access, automatic status upgrades, or decreased requirements
- Travel insurance
- Baggage delay insurance
- Lost luggage insurance
- Rental car insurance
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Roadside assistance
- Emergency medical and dental coverage
- Accident insurance (often for rental cars)
- Concierge services
- Airport lounge access
- Priority boarding on flights
- No blackout dates
- Free hotel room upgrades or late checkout
- Rental car discounts
- Cruises and vacation package discounts
- 0% APR financing on travel purchases
And the list goes on. If a card offers benefits you wouldn’t otherwise pay for, ask yourself whether you’d actually use that benefit. For example, how much use is a cruise discount to you if you never plan to take a cruise? Would you go through the process of signing up for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® if it were free or discounted?
As a rule of thumb, try to prioritize opportunities to save money you’re already spending or get things you know for sure you’ll use over benefits that require you to jump through hoops.
Read more: Credit card travel insurance: Which cards are the best?
Travel rewards
In addition to complimentary services and benefits, pay attention to rewards categories and rules for earning points or miles. It’s not a matter of if there are restrictions, it’s how many.
Does a card only earn rewards if you book through its travel portal? Is there a cap on how much spending qualifies to earn the highest rates? Do points or miles expire or have requirements for how many you need to have in your account in order to redeem? If you want to transfer your points to another program, how many options will you have, what will your rewards points be worth, and how difficult is the process?
All of these things can make a big difference in your overall experience with a card. For this list, we only chose cards with the most straightforward and flexible rewards structures, but not all cards are so easy to use.
Everyday rewards
You’re probably not always going to be in Europe, so it’s important to choose a card that will also serve you well in the States or wherever you live. The best travel rewards credit cards make it easy to earn and redeem rewards almost anywhere, sometimes even on mundane spending for things like groceries.
Annual fees
Annual fees are important to consider because you want to make sure that a card is actually going to save you money. There’s no point in paying an annual fee if you’re not going to earn enough rewards to cover it.
Unfortunately, the best travel credit cards often come with annual fees, but they’re not always outrageous. Sometimes, annual fees are well worth paying, as is the case for all of the ones we’ve picked here. But other times, steep annual fees only get in the way and are dealbreakers.
Annual fees for mid-tier rewards credit cards typically start at around $95 but can go up to around $600. At the end of the day, your credit card shouldn’t be something you have to budget for or worry about fitting into your expenses. If you can’t afford to pay an annual fee when signing up for a credit card, choose a different card with a lower annual fee or no annual fee.
It’s common to see annual fees waived for the first year. But since you’re going to have the card for longer than a year, don’t let yourself forget about the annual fee.
Read more: Is an annual fee credit card ever worth it?
Other fees
Foreign transaction fees can make or break a credit card too. Most credit cards come with foreign transaction fees that you pay whenever you make purchases internationally or buy from internationally-based stores. Usually, this fee is equal to about 3% of each purchase. This means every time you spend money outside of the country, you’ll see an extra charge on your credit card statement for the foreign transaction fees. If you’re traveling and charging everything to your card, these fees can add up super quickly.
But this is just one kind of credit card fee to watch out for. Other common types of fees that are not specific to travel rewards credit cards include:
- Late payment fees – usually $20 to $35 each time
- Balance transfer fees – usually 3% to 5% of your total balance
- Cash advance fees – usually 3% to 5% of your total balance
- Returned payment fees – usually between $20 and $40 each time
And of course, you can’t forget about interest.
Interest
As with any credit card you’re thinking about getting, you should know the interest rates you can be charged when you don’t make your payments by the due date. Maybe you don’t plan on ever carrying a balance, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the APR. Life happens.
Because credit card interest is used to protect issuers from losing money if cardholders can’t repay their balances and rates are based on the prime rate, APRs can be brutal even if you have excellent credit.
You might see a variable interest rate of anywhere from 18% on the low end to well over 25% on purchases and balance transfers.
Read more: How to avoid paying interest on your credit card balance
Sign-up bonuses
Sign-up bonuses are meant to entice you to choose one travel credit card over another, but they can get you into trouble if you’re not careful. For example, you may find yourself overspending to reach the minimum spending requirement to qualify for a bonus.
Because they can encourage bad habits, we’d never advocate for getting a credit card just for a sign-up bonus. With that said, you should always know if a sign-up bonus is available when applying for a new credit card so you can work toward getting it if it’s realistically within reach.
The big fat caveat here is that you should only try for a sign-up bonus that’s going to be easy to get. If you have to stretch your spending or go over budget to qualify for a bonus, that doesn’t mean you and a credit card aren’t meant to be. It just means you won’t get the extra points or rewards if you sign up. Bonuses aren’t worth going into debt or mental/financial stress for.
How do travel rewards work?
How travel rewards work depends on the credit card issuer and the type of credit card. You’ll earn and redeem rewards differently from one card to the next.
If you have a general travel rewards card rather than a branded credit card through an airline or hotel, you’ll likely earn rewards points or miles every time you spend. These can usually be redeemed for any of the following:
- Flights – award tickets, free seat upgrades, complimentary services, priority boarding, etc.
- Hotels – award nights, free room upgrades, complimentary services, priority check-in and check-out, etc.
- Cash – statement credits, bank transfers, direct deposits, gift cards, etc.
- Transfers – sent to a transfer partner’s loyalty program and redeemed there
Exactly how points or miles can be redeemed depends on the credit card issuer. For example, Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can be redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal and Citi ThankYou® Points can be redeemed for travel through the Citi ThankYou Travel Center.
The best travel rewards credit cards also pay rewards on specific categories such as dining or travel. This means you maximize the benefits of your card by using it for your regular spending and your trip to France. But you’d only want to do this if the category or regular rewards rate (the “all other purchases” one) is better than the base rate of any other credit cards you have.
If you have a branded airline or hotel credit card, you may have fewer options when cashing in your points. Sometimes, these rewards programs only let you book travel or request a cash payout. Other times, you’ll have the flexibility to transfer them.
To redeem travel rewards, log into your credit card account and navigate to the rewards section. This is in a different place for every app so just look for words like “redeem” or “see your balance.”
Finally, know that not all spending earns rewards. Usually, things like cash advances, balance transfers, and interest fees don’t count for points or miles.
Travel rewards cards vs. cash back credit cards
The main difference between a travel rewards card and a cash rewards card is in how you actually receive rewards.
With a travel credit card, rewards are usually given as points or miles any time you use your card to book travel or make purchases. You’ll likely earn the most rewards for travel booked through the issuer, a little less for travel booked through other sites or directly through airlines and hotels, and a little less for everything else. There may be a bonus category or two in between those, like dining or streaming, that earns more than the lowest base rate but less than travel.
With a cash back card, you earn “cash” as a percentage of what you spend (such as 1%, 2%, or 3%) that can be redeemed as money in a few different ways. This could be a statement credit or deposit into your bank account, or you might be able to purchase gift cards or shop with your cash rewards. Depending on available offers, all of these options may offer slightly different rewards values. Cash back cards can either pay the same flat rate on all purchases or have bonus categories that let you earn different amounts on different types of spending.
Cash rewards cards are usually more likely to charge foreign transaction fees because they prioritize everyday rewards over travel rewards. They might still come with a travel benefit or two, but they’ll emphasize helping you save money by paying yourself back.
Read more: 8 best cash back credit cards: Review and compare
Who should get a travel credit card?
If you travel frequently, a travel rewards credit card can help you earn rewards faster. You can redeem these rewards to save on your next trip to Europe or the grocery store.
Even if you don’t travel that many times in a year, you can probably make a travel credit card worth it provided that it doesn’t have an excessive annual fee. As long as you make a few travel purchases annually, whether trips overseas or vacations not far from home, you’ll probably be able to take advantage of enough of the benefits to make having a travel card worth it.
Plus, the best travel credit cards like the ones we’ve featured here come with benefits like dining credit and discounts that you can easily use right at home. Most travel cards worth getting are just as rewarding when you’re not traveling as when you are. This is why it’s so important to get a card that’s going to make sense for you when you’re not galavanting across Europe and when you are.
Who should not get a travel credit card?
If you don’t travel frequently or really at all, a cash rewards credit card might be a better option for you. With a cash rewards card, you can earn rewards points that can be redeemed in more ways than travel points. This way, your points or miles don’t go to waste if you don’t have any reason to redeem them.
Competitive travel rewards cards like the ones we’ve picked tend to have high credit and income requirements, so they’re not ideal for those with new credit or low credit. If you have a bad credit score and/or limited credit history, you will likely have trouble qualifying for a great travel credit card because these are very selective. And if you do get approved, you may be offered the highest interest rate possible.
If you have your heart set on travel rewards credit cards but your credit says otherwise, work on improving your credit score with a different credit card for a while before applying for one of these. A travel credit card can help you build your credit just like any other unsecured credit card, but the risks are higher when you factor in high annual fees and interest rates.
Read more: Best credit cards for beginners
Tips for using your credit card in Europe
If you have time to plan ahead, one of the best ways to make the most of a travel rewards credit card is to use it before you travel. This way, you can earn rewards and points toward your trip expenses to save yourself money sooner than you might otherwise. Points can be used to purchase many types of travel but will be worth the most with particular loyalty programs or brands, so do your homework ahead of time to map out your spending.
To really maximize your points, don’t just redeem rewards for statement credits. If you’re a member of an airline or hotel loyalty program, you might get more value out of transferring them to that account. Compare your options and even calculator points values to strategize.
While you’re in Europe, use your travel credit card like you would a debit card. Be mindful of your budget and don’t charge anything more to your card than you can immediately afford to repay. No matter which credit card you choose, pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges, late fees, and negative marks on your credit history.
Our final tip is to use your card to eat something delicious while you’re there, because Europe.
Read more: 13 tips for traveling abroad safely, cheaply, and responsibly
Summary
Travel credit cards can help you earn rewards and save money on travel expenses you would need to pay anyway and get access to services and features you wouldn’t use if they weren’t free. They’re safe and convenient to use when traveling and flexible enough to keep using at home.
However, travel cards are not ideal for everyone. Those who don’t travel frequently or have new or low credit may be better off with a different type of credit card. But when used wisely, travel credit cards can make you richer with every swipe.
Enjoy your trip to Europe and don’t forget to sign up for a great travel card before you leave.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.