7 of the best starter travel credit cards
Editor's Note
The world of credit cards can seem overwhelming when you're just starting. But if you want to move on from your cash-back card (or even a student card), you're in the right place. The right starter travel card can offer much more rewarding perks.
With so much information and so many options, how do you know which card to choose? Do you want transferable points? Airline miles? Free nights at a hotel chain?
Analysis paralysis and decision fatigue can really hold you back at the beginning. The key to picking the right credit card is to start by setting your travel goals.
There are no right or wrong answers to these questions — it's all about what's important to you. You may even change your mind as you gain experience in the world of points and miles. Once you've decided, you can match your answers to the right card.
We've assembled this list of the best starter credit cards so you don't end up with rewards that don't match your goals. We also kept simplicity in mind when compiling this list. None of these cards are tied to complicated, difficult-to-understand programs, nor do they have intimidating annual fees, though they all have the potential for outsize value.
And all of them are worth keeping in your credit card inventory for the long term.
Related: TPG's beginner's guide to credit cards
Best starter travel rewards cards
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees)
- American Express® Gold Card
- American Express® Green Card
- Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees)
- Bank of America® Travel 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.
| Card | Welcome offer | Bonus categories |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. |
|
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
|
| Citi Strata Premier℠ Card | Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on new purchases within the first three months of account opening. |
|
| American Express® Gold Card | Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within six months of account opening. You may see higher, targeted offers in the CardMatch tool (subject to change at any time). |
|
| American Express® Green Card | Earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within six months of account opening. |
|
| Bilt Mastercard® | None |
|
| Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card | Earn 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. |
|
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of our favorite travel cards for a reason. If you have a good enough credit score, this card can be a fantastic starter travel card.
Annual fee: $95
Welcome bonus:Earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Why it's a great starter card: There's a good reason why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is our top pick for our list of starter cards. In addition to the lucrative welcome offer, cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Chase Travel, along with the following:
- 5 points per dollar with Lyft (through March 31, 2025)
- 3 points per dollar on dining (including takeout and delivery), select streaming services and online grocery orders (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs)
- 2 points per dollar on travel
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
The Ultimate Rewards points it earns are easy to use with 11 airline and three hotel loyalty program partners, such as United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt. Your points can also be redeemed for 1.25 cents apiece to book flights on any airline or hotel rooms through Chase Travel.
The card also has terrific travel benefits, including primary insurance when renting a car and no foreign transaction fees. You'll also enjoy $50 in annual statement credits for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel, and each year, on your account anniversary, you'll enjoy a 10% points bonus on your spending from the previous year.
When you add in the welcome bonus and an annual fee of only $95, you have a card that offers great value, especially if you're just starting out in the world of travel rewards.
To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Venture Rewards doesn't have complicated bonus categories to track, which may make it the perfect fit for your wallet.
Annual fee: $95 (see rates and fees)
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Why it's a great starter card: Travelers getting started in the points and miles world, or those who aren't inherently loyal to a single hotel chain or airline, can take full advantage of this card's flexibility.
First, you earn a flat 2 miles per dollar spent on everything, meaning you don't have to keep track of different spending categories. However, that earning rate jumps to 5 miles per dollar for hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
You'll also get an up-to-$120 credit to cover the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
Use your rewards to jump on the cheapest cash ticket to wherever you're going while still taking advantage of 15-plus airline and hotel partners. This card packs a lot in for a $95 annual fee and even makes the cut as one of our overall best travel credit cards.
To learn more, read our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Apply here: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Citi Strata Premier Card
If you want a single card to cover a wide range of bonus categories, the Strata Premier is exactly what you're looking for.
Annual fee: $95
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on new purchases within the first three months of account opening.
Why it's a great starter card: The beauty of the Citi Strata Premier Card is its breadth of bonus categories. The card earns 3 ThankYou points per dollar on air travel, other hotel purchases, restaurants, gas stations, EV charging stations and supermarkets, helping you rack up lots of points in no time.
When it comes to spending those points, you can transfer them to any of Citi's 18 travel partners.
You can also receive $100 off one hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) per year when you book through CitiTravel.com. The card has no foreign transaction fees and a $95 annual fee.
To learn more, see our full review of the Citi Strata Premier.
Apply here: Citi Strata Premier Card
American Express Gold Card
The Amex Gold is a great choice for anyone who spends a lot of money on food. With this card, you'll rack up tons of points on many of your food purchases.
Annual fee: $325 (see rates and fees)
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within six months of account opening. However, be sure to check the CardMatch tool to see if you're targeted for an even higher bonus (offers are subject to change at any time).
Why it's a great starter card: The Amex Gold Card is fantastic for anyone looking to leverage their everyday spending for excellent rewards — while also enjoying useful statement credits for things like dining and ride-hailing services.
You'll earn 4 points per dollar at restaurants (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year at U.S. supermarkets (then 1 point per dollar), 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on amextravel.com and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
Cardmembers also receive up to $120 in annual statement credits (up to $10 per month) toward dining purchases at select merchants and up to $120 per calendar year ($10 per month) in Uber Cash toward U.S. Uber rides and U.S. Uber Eats orders after downloading and enrolling your Gold card in your Uber account. You can redeem with any Amex card. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
Other perks include access to The Hotel Collection, the Global Assist Hotline and several shopping and travel protections on the card.
To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Gold Card.
Apply here: American Express Gold Card
American Express Green Card
The Amex Green is often overlooked, but it's definitely a card you should consider.
Annual fee: $150
Welcome offer: Earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within six months of account opening.
Why it's a great starter card: The Amex Green Card's broad bonus-earning categories and relatively low annual fee make it great for beginner travelers. With it, you'll earn 3 points per dollar on travel, transit and dining at restaurants, allowing you to rack up points both at home and while traveling.
The Membership Rewards you'll earn with this card are extremely versatile, and you'll be able to book your next trip in no time by transferring your points to one of Amex's 21 airline and three hotel transfer partners, including Delta Air Lines SkyMiles and Marriott Bonvoy.
You'll also get travel benefits like an up to $199 Clear Plus credit each calendar year, travel insurance and shopping protections.
Learn more: American Express Green
Bilt Mastercard
If you pay rent, having the Bilt Mastercard in your wallet is a no-brainer.
Annual fee: No annual fee (see rates and fees)
Welcome offer: None
Why it's a great starter card: Many beginners in this hobby also pay monthly rent. If you pay by bank deposit, cash or check, your landlord shouldn't charge you a fee. Paying your rent by credit card often involves transaction fees, but that's not true with the Bilt Mastercard.
The Bilt card even works with landlords who don't accept credit card payments, so you can earn Bilt Points without paying a transaction fee. Cardholders can earn up to 100,000 points on rent each calendar year.
However, you need to make at least five transactions on your card each month to earn rewards, which come at the rate of 1 point per dollar on rent and everyday purchases, 2 points per dollar on travel and 3 points per dollar on dining (see rewards and benefits).
Additionally, the card offers several perks like Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection*, Trip Delay Reimbursement* and No Foreign Currency Conversion Fee* (see rates and fees). The card also offers World Elite Mastercard benefits, including Cellular Telephone Protection* and Lyft Credits* every month you use your card to pay for three or more Lyft rides.
The points earned on this card can be transferred to 12 airline and four hotel partners.
To learn more, read our full review of the Bilt Mastercard.
Apply here: Bilt Mastercard
Editor's note: TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor.
Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card
If you want a card that offers simplicity or if you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, I recommend checking out the Bank of America Travel Rewards.
Annual fee: No annual fee
Welcome offer: Earn 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases within 90 days of account opening.
Why it's a great starter card: For beginners, points and miles can seem daunting, so it's good to have a card that offers an unlimited 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases without worrying about different categories (and without paying an annual fee).
What's more, if you are a Bank of America banking customer, you can earn additional points under the Preferred Rewards program, where Bank of America Preferred Rewards members earn a bonus between 25% and 75% (depending on your tier) on every purchase.
Just note that you'll need a three-month average of at least $20,000 across your Bank of America and Merrill accounts to qualify.
The points earned on this card can be redeemed as a statement credit for travel or dining purchases at a flat rate of 1 cent per point. The card doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee.
To learn more, read our full review of the Bank of America Travel Rewards card.
Apply here: Bank of America Travel Rewards
How to choose the right starter travel card for you
There is no one-size-fits-all travel card. With so many great options, deciding which card (or cards) to get to begin building your credit card portfolio can be hard. Make sure you choose a card that fits your spending habits, travel goals and budget.
Start by taking inventory of the categories you spend the most on each month.
Do you live in a large city where groceries at supermarkets (in the U.S. with the Amex Gold) and dining at restaurants typically make up most of your monthly spending? If so, consider cards such as the Citi Strata Premier or Amex Gold that offer rewards across those categories.
These rewards cards can be a great way to earn rewards for your spending and work toward your travel goals.
Last, consider your budget. If you don't think you'll get more than $325 in value from the Amex Gold every year, for instance, maybe the Strata Premier's lower $95 annual fee is a nice compromise between your travel goals and budget.
At the end of the day, it's all about considering which cards will give you the most value each year through earned rewards, perks or a mix of both.
Related: Why there's no such thing as the 'best' credit card
What credit score do you need for a travel credit card?
Most travel credit cards require good-to-excellent credit, meaning you'll want a score over 650. A score of over 700 is ideal. That's not to say that you won't be approved if your score isn't that high, but it is a good rule of thumb when considering applying for a credit card.
It may be a bit easier to get approved for one of the cards on this list than luxury cards such as The Platinum Card® from American Express or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. However, you'll still need to have established credit and a good score to have the best chance of getting approved.
If you don't currently have a good credit score or lack credit history, you'll want to build credit with a beginner or secured card or by becoming an authorized user on someone else's card. If your credit score is less than stellar, it's a good idea to take the necessary steps to improve your score before applying for a travel rewards credit card.
Related: What credit score do I need for the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
Don't forget about Chase's 5/24 rule
If you're still torn about which card to get, it's worth pointing out Chase's 5/24 rule, as it can influence your decision. According to this rule, Chase is likely to reject your application if you've opened five or more personal cards across all issuers in the last 24 months (although most business cards don't count toward your total).
Because of this restriction, conventional wisdom is to start by using up your five slots with Chase before moving on to other issuers. When you're just starting with travel rewards, it can be easy to underestimate the importance of this rule, but Chase offers some of the most valuable travel rewards cards on the market. If you don't get them first, you might not be able to get them for a while.
Sometimes, it makes sense to ignore the 5/24 rule and set off in a different direction, but it's not a decision you should make lightly. Unless you have a good reason for looking elsewhere, you should start with a Chase card first. And there aren't many better choices than the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
For more on this rule and the rules the banks use for credit card applications, see our guide to credit card application restrictions.
Bottom line
With so many travel rewards cards out there, choosing which one to apply for might seem overwhelming. But you can't go wrong with any of the choices on this list, as all the options offer great rewards rates and an introduction to the world of points and miles. So, decide what your travel goals are, then use this guide to pick the right card.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of Bilt Mastercard rates and fees, click here.
See Bilt Mastercard rewards and benefits here.
Related: Are travel credit cards worth it?