travel charge card

Department of Defense Travel Card Benefits

Progress informed from the past, and inspired by the future, cardholder guide.

Official travel for the Department of Defense just became easier with the Citi Department of Defense Travel Card. When you are preparing to use your new card, please read What To Do When I First Receive My New Card . For more information regarding your new card, please read the Department of Defense Cardholder Guide .

Department of Defense Travel Insurance

As a cardholder, you will receive global travel accident and lost luggage insurance so you feel safe and secure wherever you travel with a Citi ® Commercial Card.

• Travel Accident Insurance Guide
• Lost Luggage Insurance Guide

Visa Guide to Benefits

In addition to the card benefits provided by Citi, Visa provides card benefits such as Car Rental Insurance and Travel and Emergency Assistance. For full details, please read the Visa Guide to Benefits .

Travel Tips

For more information on your Citi Department of Defense Travel Card, please read What to do Before, During and After travel .

Online Tools

Citi's global online tool, CitiManager ® , enables you to manage business expenses from anywhere around the globe from your computer or mobile device; you can view statements online, confirm account balances, sign up for email and SMS alerts, and much more. If you have not already signed up for the CitiManager ® tool, please log on to www.citimanager.com/login and click on the 'Self registration for Cardholders' link. From there, follow the prompts to establish your account.

For more information on the CitiManager ® tool, view our CitiManager ® Cardholder Quick Reference Guide .

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Travel Charge Card

Usda travel charge card program.

The Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), Financial Planning and Policy, Fiscal Policy Division, Travel Section, along with representatives from agencies across USDA, is responsible for establishing and implementing travel policy and procedures as well as managing the USDA travel charge card program.

The USDA Travel Charge Card program provides travel charge cards to USDA employees through the GSA SmartPay 2 contract. The USDA travel charge card provides employees with access to government negotiated fares while allowing agencies greater visibility in to their travel spend.

Travel Charge Card Holder and Travel Charge Card A/OPC Training

All Travel Charge Card holders and Agency/Organization Program Coordinators (A/OPCs) are required to take the USDA Travel Charge Card Training on the proper use of a Government Travel Charge Card prior to receiving one. This course gives charge card holders and A/OPCs a better understanding of the policies and procedures for the Travel Charge Card and helps you and your agency maximize the benefits of the Travel Charge Card program.

Receive travel charge card training by searching for “USDA Travel Charge Card Training” on AgLearn+

Benefits of the USDA Travel Charge Card include:

• The travel charge card is accepted worldwide
• Access to discount government negotiated rates
• Built in travel insurance
• Eliminates the need for travelers to use their personal charge card
• Travelers are no longer required to carry large sums of cash
• Ability to monitor transactions and pay bill online
• Improved oversight in travel spend
• Charges are limited to travel related expenses

Travel Charge Card Policy

The USDA Travel Charge Card is a convenient method for the USDA and employees to make payments for official government travel and travel related expenses, while allowing the USDA to better manage their travel related expenses.

Other benefits of the program include:

• Safety – The USDA Travel Charge Card improves financial controls and eliminates the need for cash
• Electronic Access to Data – Provides accurate, comprehensive transaction detail with a few clicks of a button
• Worldwide Acceptance – The GSA SmartPay2 Charge Cards provide greater access to merchants because they are accepted worldwide
• Access to Government providers - Government Charge Card users are given access to GSA City Pair reduced airfares and FedRooms hotel rates

The USDA saves money on travel processing costs and generates revenue through volume of refunds with the use of the GSA SmartPay Travel Charge Card.

Eligibility

Employees who travel more than four times a year on official government business are required to use a government charge card. Please contact you’re A/OPC to discuss your eligibility to receive a travel charge card.

Card holder roles and responsibilities

Cardholders SHOULD:

• Use the charge card appropriately, in accordance with USDA policy, other laws, and governmental regulations
• Keep up to date with required program & agency-specific training, including refresher training
• Look out for communications from A/OPCs and take appropriate action
• Contact their A/OPC for questions regarding use of the card
• Immediately report a lost or stolen card
• Register for on-line access
• Use card for OFFICIAL travel expenses ONLY
• Track expenses while on travel in order to have accurate information for filing travel claims
• Keep receipts for All transactions charged on their travel charge card
• File travel claim within 5 days of returning from TDY
• Submit payment in full and on time for each monthly bill

Cardholders SHOULD NOT:

• Use the Travel Charge Card for personal use
• Obtain ATM travel advances which exceed the expected out of pocket expenditures for a trip
• Allow their monthly bill to become overdue which could result in the suspension or cancellation of the Travel Charge Card
• Wait for the receipt of their monthly bill to file travel claims
• Pay for another individuals travel expense
• Write their personal identification number (PIN) on the card or carry the pin number in their wallet

Travel Charge Card Documents

• Travel Charge Card Acceptance and Acknowledge Statement (PDF, 206 KB)
• USDA Government Travel Charge Card Regulation
• US Bank Cardholder Guide (PDF, 143 KB)
• Travel Charge Card Do’s and Dont’s (PDF, 426 KB)
• Inter-Departmental Hierarchy Transfer Request (PDF, 175 KB)
• Payment Transfer Request (XLSX, 72.2 KB)

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• Travel Management

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Travel charge card program.

The DOC Travel Charge Card Handbook implements the mandatory use of the travel charge card by all DOC official travelers.This policy supplements the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) where additional policy or guidance is required. The Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) travel charge card policy can be found in Chapter 301, Sections 51, 52, 54, 70, 71, 72, 73, 75, and 76.

The Government Travel Charge Card Program (GTCC) provides travelers with a safe, effective, convenient, and commercially available method to pay for expenses associated with official travel. The GTCC includes Individually Billed Accounts (IBAs) and Centrally Billed Accounts (CBAs).

The Department of Commerce (DOC) policy is that government issue travel card be used to pay for ALL official travel expenses while on TDY/TAD if travel is five or more times in a year, unless exempt.. Personal use of the travel card or using the travel card to pay for someone else's travel expenses is prohibited. The use of the travel card for non-official expenses may result in disciplinary actions.

Application forms (either electronic or hard copy) for an IBA are available from an A/OPC. The electronic application is the preferred method since it provides tracking capability. An A/OPC will provide an applicant with a travel card application or website link with the Invitation Passcode and Inviters email address to use along with appropriate program information and the Statement of Understanding for Travel Cardholders," which an applicant must complete. No card will be issued without a properly completed application, the signed IBA Statement of Understanding (SOU) and the GSA SmartPay Training completion certificate.

Please review the Online Travel Card Application Instructions to apply.

1.) IBA Statement of Understanding (SOU)

2.)  GSA SmartPay Travel Training

3 .) CitiManager Cardholder User Guide

4.) Cardholders FAQ

5.) CitiManager for Cardholders (mp4)

For travel card program questions or assistance, please contact your Bureau Agency Organizational Program Coordinator (A/OPC).

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• Per Diem Lookup

Government Travel Charge Card Program

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION                 Washington, DC 20405

OAS 5740.1 CHGE 2 January 17, 2023  

SUBJECT: Government Travel Charge Card Program

• Purpose . This Order provides guidance for the management and use of the GSA SmartPay® individually-billed account travel charge card (travel card) and centrally-billed account.  
• Background . The Travel and Transportation Reform Act (TTRA) of 1998 (Public Law 105-264), as implemented by the Federal Travel Regulation and OMB Circular A-123 Appendix B, Improving the Management of Government Charge Card Programs , mandates that Federal Government cardholders use the travel card for official Government travel expenses. Public Law 112-194, the Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012, amends Section 2 of TTRA and outlines the minimum requirements to ensure effective management controls.  
• Scope and Applicability . This Order provides policy, standards, instructions, and procedures governing the management and use of the travel card. The provisions apply to all GSA employees. This Order applies to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to the extent that the OIG determines it is consistent with the OIG’s independent authority under the Inspector General Act and does not conflict with other OIG policies or the OIG mission. This Order applies to the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) to the extent that the CBCA determines it is consistent with the CBCA’s independent authority under the Contract Disputes Act and applicable Federal Court decisions and does not conflict with other CBCA policies or its mission.  
• Cancellation . This Order cancels and supersedes GSA Order OAS 5740.1 CHGE 1.  
• Summary of Changes . This Order updates policy where needed to reflect the transition of the program to GSA SmartPay® 3, expands the Responsibilities section to update duties of the Chief Administrative Services Officer and Agency/Organization Program Coordinator, changes the title of the Charge Card Coordinator to Travel Card Program Analyst, adds the use of Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) and Innovative Mobility Technology Companies (IMTCs), and removes the Travel Card Program Analyst appointing duties of the Regional Commissioners (RCs) to reflect the consolidation of Travel Card Program Analysts into the Office of Administrative Services (OAS). Minor editorial and clarifications are also made.  
• Signature .

/S/     _____________________ BOB STAFFORD Chief Administrative Services Officer Office of Administrative Services

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PER DIEM LOOK-UP

1 choose a location.

Error, The Per Diem API is not responding. Please try again later.

No results could be found for the location you've entered.

Rates for Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. Territories and Possessions are set by the Department of Defense .

Rates for foreign countries are set by the State Department .

2 Choose a date

Rates are available between 10/1/2021 and 09/30/2024.

The End Date of your trip can not occur before the Start Date.

Traveler reimbursement is based on the location of the work activities and not the accommodations, unless lodging is not available at the work activity, then the agency may authorize the rate where lodging is obtained.

Unless otherwise specified, the per diem locality is defined as "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city, including independent entities located within those boundaries."

Per diem localities with county definitions shall include "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city as well as the boundaries of the listed counties, including independent entities located within the boundaries of the key city and the listed counties (unless otherwise listed separately)."

When a military installation or Government - related facility(whether or not specifically named) is located partially within more than one city or county boundary, the applicable per diem rate for the entire installation or facility is the higher of the rates which apply to the cities and / or counties, even though part(s) of such activities may be located outside the defined per diem locality.

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Charge Card Program Management

PSC Transportation Services is responsible for program management of the financial instruments associated with travel and transportation, fleet, and employee transit benefits.   Purchase cards are the responsibility of the Office of Acquisition Management, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources. 

GO! card SM Transit Benefit Charge Card

PSC’s GO! card ℠ is the primary tool through which transit benefits are distributed to eligible federal employees who use public transportation to commute between their home and workplace.   PSC manages the GO! card ℠ charge card program and distributes the GO! card ℠ to individual commuters to utilize their monthly transit benefit.

HHS and Non-HHS federal employees can access GO! card ℠ frequently asked questions and general guidance related to Transit Benefit Programs in the Transit Benefit Program toolkit .

Fleet Charge Cards

PSC manages a program supporting the use of credit cards for Government-owned and leased fleet vehicles. 

• Card program administration support
• System access
• Troubleshooting card transactions, billing, controls and access
• Basic reporting and oversight
• National policy setting, consultation, and interpretation
• Basic cardholder training
• Task order maintenance

Individually Billed Account (IBA) Travel Charge Cards

See the Travel and Transportation Program page for more information about IBA travel charge card program management.

Centrally Billed Accounts for Common Carrier Transportation

Centrally billed accounts are available to HHS Operating Divisions to pay for common carrier transportation consistent with the Federal Travel Regulation when necessary.  PSC coordinates the setup of centrally billed accounts and oversees the use of the accounts through program management activities.

Transit Benefit Charge Card Participant Inquiries:

For immediate assistance visit the Transit Benefit Program Toolkit for Job Aids/FAQs and to contact GO! card SM Support contacts

PSC Contacts

(Participant inquiries should not be directed to these contacts)

Lori Ruderman Director, Transportation Services (301) 492-4774 [email protected]

Hilleary Topercer Transit and SP3 Charge Card Program Manager (301) 492-4842

Manny Van Pelt Business Manager, and Department Travel Program Manager (385) 285-7476 [email protected]

Teresa Sulton Fleet Program Manager (202) 691-2029

Contacts for Operating and Staff Divisions

Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Travel Card: 202-205-4642 Alt. Travel Card: 202-401-5367 Lead FATA: 202-205-4642 Alt. Lead FATA: 202-401-5367 Alt. Lead FATA: 202-401-4797

Administration for Community Living (ACL) Travel Card: 202-357-3418 Travel Payment: 301-443-3011 Lead FATA: 202-357-3418 Budget Lead: 202-357-3418

Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ) Travel Card: 301-427-1219 Travel Payment: 301-443-3011 Lead FATA: 301-427-1219 Budget Lead: 301-427-1771

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travel Card: 678-475-4510 Travel Payment: 678-475-4510 Lead FATA: 404-639-7500 Budget Lead: 678-475-4510

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Travel Card: 410-786-1872 Lead FATA: 410-786-6067 Budget Lead: 410-786-2860

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Travel Card: 240-402-0168 Travel Payment: 301-796-6731 Lead FATA: 240-402-0143 Lead FATA: 301-796-8795 Lead FATA: 870-543-7043 Budget Lead: 240-402-0143

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Travel Card: 301-443-0201 Travel Payment: 301-443-3011 Lead FATA: 301-443-0201 Budget Lead: 301-443-0884

Indian Health Service (IHS) Travel Card: 301-443-1270 Lead FATA: 301-443-1270

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Travel Card: 301-435-3023 Travel Payment: 301-451-0004 Lead FATA: 301-451-0004

Office of Inspector General (OIG) Travel Card: 202-619-2675 Travel Payment: 301-443-3011 Lead FATA: 202-619-2675

Office of Public Health Service (OPHS) Travel Card: 202-260-8868 Travel Payment: 301-443-3011 Lead FATA: 202-205-7853 Budget Lead: 202-260-8868

HHS Office of the Secretary (OS) Travel Card: 202-260-6673 Travel Payment: 301-443-3011 Lead FATA: 202-260-6673

Program Support Center (PSC) Travel Card: 301-492-4843 Travel Payment: 301-443-3011 Lead FATA: 301-619-3046 Budget Lead: 301-492-4916

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) Travel Card: 240-276-1756 Travel Payment: 301-443-3011 Lead FATA: 240-276-1756 Budget Lead: 240-276-1756

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DOT Travel Card Management Policy

Best travel credit cards of April 2024

Fortune Recommends™ has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Fortune Recommends™ and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.  

Travel credit cards make it possible for you to earn free and discounted travel with your everyday spending. What's more, some of the best travel credit cards also offer valuable perks that elevate your trip experience.

At the same time, each card has its own set of rewards rates, intro bonuses, annual fees and other terms, so take your time picking one that aligns well with your travel and spending habits.

The best travel credit cards of April 2024

• Best premium card: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Best flat-rate rewards card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

• Best mid-range card: Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card
• Best for lounge access: The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Best for airline loyalists: United Explorer Card
• Best for hotel loyalists: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
• Best $0 annual fee travel card: Bilt Mastercard

Best 0% intro APR card: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

• Best for earnings: U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

Best for fair credit: Credit One Wander

• Best for credit building: Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Best premium card: Capital One Venture X Card

The Venture X packs a lot of travel rewards into a card that costs hundreds of dollars less than its competitors.

Why we like it: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers rich rewards and travel perks, and unlike many other premium travel credit cards, the Venture X doesn't make you jump through many hoops to earn back the cost of its steep annual fee. In addition to a Capital One Travel credit and bonus miles each year, you'll also get complimentary access to a number of airport lounge networks with more than 1,300 locations around the world. 

The card also offers ultimate flexibility when it comes to redeeming your rewards for travel. You can book with miles through Capital One Travel, or if you want more options, you can use your card to pay for travel-related expenses and request a statement credit. If you're feeling ambitious, you can even transfer your rewards to various frequent flyer and hotel rewards programs and potentially get more value from your miles.

The Venture Card puts the power into your hands by earning miles that you can either use against your travel purchases or transfer to travel partners.

Travel rewards can get complicated, which is why the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card feels like a breath of fresh air. The card offers a high, flat rewards rate on your everyday spending, so you don't need to keep track of different bonus rewards categories. It also offers extra miles on select travel booked through the Capital One Travel platform.

You can redeem your miles by booking travel through Capital One Travel or by using your card to pay for travel on your own and requesting a statement credit. Alternatively, you can transfer your miles to airline and hotel rewards program partners for more dynamic redemptions. The card also comes with complimentary Hertz Five Star status, which lets you skip the rental counter and get access to a wider selection of vehicles. When you use it to pay the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, Capital One will reimburse you.

Best mid-level card: Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers both robust earnings on travel and a useful suite of travel protections. Plus, Chase's dozen-plus transfer partners offer flexibility in travel redemptions.

Why we like it: If you're looking for a way to maximize your travel rewards without paying a steep annual fee, look no further than the Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card . The card offers an impressive welcome bonus and several opportunities to earn bonus points on your everyday spending. Annual perks include a $50 credit toward hotel stays booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, a 10% points bonus on your spending throughout the year and benefits with partners like Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, and Peloton.

The card offers flexible redemption options, including cash back, but you'll get 25% more value if you use your points to book travel through Chase. Alternatively, you can transfer your rewards to one of the card issuer's airline or hotel rewards program partners and potentially squeeze more value out of your points. 

Best for lounge access: The Platinum Card® from American Express 

Why we like this card.

The Platinum Card® from American Express charges an annual fee that some will find hard to stomach. But if you're a frequent flyer, it may well become your favorite travel companion. The card offers access to more airport lounge networks than any other credit card. At larger airports, you may even have your pick among several lounge options. 

The card also comes packed with more than $1,500 in annual travel and lifestyle credits, elite status with select hotel and car rental rewards programs and many other perks that touch just about every aspect of your travel experience. That said, many of the credits are doled out in increments and are for specific vendors, making them harder to redeem.

Pro tip: Credits only have value if you use them in your daily life. If a credit or benefit is causing you to make purchases you don't usually make, you might want to reconsider whether it is worth it for you.

Best for airline loyalists: United SM Explorer Card

The United Explorer card makes sense if you are one of the over 140 million passengers that flew United last year.

Why we like it: If you like the idea of enjoying rewards and perks with an airline rather than general travel rewards and benefits, you can't go wrong with the United Explorer Card . The card offers a sizable welcome bonus and a few different bonus rewards categories, and with a strong domestic and international presence, you'll have plenty of options when it comes to redeeming your miles for award flights.

You'll get some standard airline card benefits, such as a free checked bag for you and a companion, priority boarding, and a discount on select inflight purchases. But you'll also get some perks that most mid-tier airline cards don't offer, including expanded access to Saver award tickets, premier upgrade eligibility on award tickets, two one-time passes to the United Club lounge each year, and an application fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

Best for hotel loyalists: IHG One Rewards Premier Card

The IHG One Rewards Card offers a free night upon card renewal along with a slew of other benefits, making it well worth the modest annual fee

Why we like it: If you want to focus your efforts on earning free hotel stays, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card offers an impressive array of benefits. The card makes it easy to earn points quickly, though it also requires a lot of points to get free stays with IHG. 

Where it really shines, though, is in its perks, which offer value that far outweighs the card's modest annual fee. You'll get a free night reward each year worth up to 40,000 points, plus a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points if you spend $20,000 in a calendar year. When you stay at IHG hotels, you'll enjoy Platinum Elite status, which includes perks like the fourth night free on award bookings, reward night discounts, complimentary upgrades, and a welcome amenity. You'll also get an application fee credit toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS.

Best $0 annual fee card: Bilt Mastercard

The Bilt Mastercard not only has no annual fee, it has a robust set of travel transfer partners. Even better, it lets you earn rewards for paying rent.

Why we like it: While it technically isn't billed as a travel credit card, the Bilt Mastercard®—the only credit card that offers rewards on rent payments—offers travel benefits that are hard to ignore. Most importantly, the card allows you to transfer your points to several airline and hotel loyalty programs, a rare feature for a travel card with no annual fee. You'll also pay no foreign transaction fees and get a few trip protections, including trip cancellation and interruption reimbursement, trip delay protection and auto rental collision damage waiver.

If your vacation plans stretch farther than your budget, the VentureOne has an extended 0% APR period on purchases so you can enjoy the sun without getting burned with interest.

Most travel credit cards don't offer introductory 0% APR promotions, but if that feature is a top priority and you don't want a cash-back card, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card may be worth a look. 

The card offers an introductory 0% APR promotion on both purchases and balance transfers, giving you plenty of time to pay off a large chunk or all of a significant purchase or high-interest debt from another card. 

The card's rewards rate isn't very exciting, but it does offer flexible travel redemption options, including access to transfer partners.

Best for earning on travel: U.S. Bank Altitude Connect

If cash back is your preference, the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect has a robust rewards rate on travel purchases plus a selection of perks unusual for a sub-$100 annual fee card.

Interestingly enough, many travel credit cards don't offer great rewards on travel spending unless you're booking through the card issuer's travel portal. If you want a card that offers best-in-class rewards on all of your travel spending, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is your best bet. 

The card also offers great rewards on other everyday spending categories, along with four free visits to Priority Pass lounges each year, an application fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and an annual bonus when you use your card to pay for an eligible streaming service.

The Credit One Wander card flies under the radar but is worth a look for its strong earnings on travel, dining and gas in addition to its more lenient credit score requirements.

Why we like it: You typically need good or excellent credit to qualify for one of the best travel credit cards, but if you're not quite there yet, the Credit One Bank Wander® Card should be on your radar. The card offers great rewards on select travel purchases and other everyday spending. 

Points can be redeemed in a variety of ways, but to get a consistent redemption rate, statement credits are your best option.

Best for credit building: Capital One Quicksilver Secured Card

You aren't out of options if you need to build your credit score before getting a standard travel card. The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Card is a rewarding option while you get on track.

Why we like it : If you're looking to build or rebuild, you'll be hard-pressed to get approved for a true travel credit card. However, the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card can be a solid alternative until you have the chance to establish a good credit score.

The card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, making it a good choice for international travel, and you'll earn a solid rewards rate on every purchase you make. While you need to make a security deposit equal to your desired credit limit when you get started, you don't have to wait to close your account to get your money back. With responsible use, you can start earning unsecured credit line increases after six months, and you can also qualify for an upgrade to an unsecured Quicksilver card down the road, at which point you'll get a deposit refund.

Our methodology

The Fortune Recommends TM team analyzed more than 50 travel credit cards across various issuers to come up with the top picks.

Here are the key elements we ranked each card by:

• Annual fee: Some card issuers require cardholders to pay an annual fee for cards with rewards and extra features or benefits. For most of our rankings, we rated cards with lower or zero-dollar annual fees higher.  
• Rewards: Travel cards typically provide rewards in the form of points or miles. For some rankings, we rated cards with better rewards rates higher on our list. 
• Insurance and protections: When you use your card to make purchases, you may be eligible for different types of protections on those purchases. Some cards offer insurance on travel-related expenses, like trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement, and more. Some cards also provide non-travel-related reimbursements like cell phone protection. For some rankings, we rated cards higher based on the number of protections they offered.
• Welcome bonus: When you sign up for a new credit card, you may be eligible for a one-time welcome bonus in the form of points or miles. You’ll need to spend a certain amount within a few months of card opening to earn the bonus. We ranked cards with higher bonuses and lower spending requirements higher on our list. 
• Perks: Travel credit cards may offer a variety of perks—like statement credits for TSA PreCheck, airport lounge access, a free checked bag, and more. We rated cards with more perks higher for some of our rankings. 
• Foreign transaction fees: Some cards charge a flat rate on purchases when you use your card abroad. We rated cards with no foreign transaction fees higher.  

How do travel credit cards work?

Unlike cash-back rewards, which tend to work the same regardless of the card issuer, travel rewards can get complicated quickly. Ultimately, your redemption options and the value of your points and miles will vary depending on the rewards program.

Flexible travel rewards

Flexible travel rewards credit cards offer points or miles through the card issuer's proprietary rewards program. Some examples include Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Capital One Miles. 

With flexible travel rewards, you'll typically get several redemption options, and your rewards are worth a set amount — usually between 0.5 cents and 1.5 cents apiece — depending on how you redeem them. Travel redemptions typically get more value, but that can vary by program.

Many of these programs also allow you to transfer your points to airline and hotel loyalty programs, giving you access to more dynamic redemptions. If you're savvy enough, you could get more value with a transfer partner than if you were to redeem through the card issuer's rewards program.

Airline rewards

Airline miles , or points in some cases, are designed primarily to help you earn award flights with your favorite airline, such as United, Delta , or Southwest. But unlike general points or miles, airline rewards typically don't have a set value. 

In some cases, the number of points or miles required for a flight may be linked to the cash value of the ticket, but they may be unrelated. As a result, the value of your rewards will vary based on your flight dates, itinerary, cabin choice, and other factors. 

In some cases, you may be able to redeem your airline rewards in other ways, but you typically won't get as much value that way.

Hotel rewards

Hotel points allow you to book free hotel stays with a single hotel chain, such as IHG, Hilton, or Marriott. Like airline rewards, hotel points have dynamic value, so your redemption rate will vary based on your destination, the property, your stay dates, and other variables.

Hotel loyalty programs may also allow you to redeem your rewards in other ways, but it's generally best to stick to free nights.

Should you pick a travel credit card?

If you frequently travel or you're looking for opportunities to travel more in the future, a travel credit card can make it easier to earn free or discounted flights, hotel stays, rental cars, and more. 

What's more, some of the top travel credit cards also offer perks that can save you more money or give you a better overall experience at the airport, in flight, or throughout your trip. 

That said, most travel credit cards don't offer as much redemption flexibility as cash-back credit cards. If you're not sure you want to go all in on travel rewards, a cash-back credit card may be a better choice. 

Also, most of the top travel credit cards charge an annual fee. While many of them make it easy to offset that cost with rewards and perks, the fee is still an out-of-pocket cost. If you're on a tight budget or you're generally fee-averse, think carefully about whether you can afford that yearly cost and make sure you can get enough value from a card to make its annual fee worthwhile.

How to choose the best travel credit card

With so many different options available, there's no single travel credit card that's best suited for all travelers. To determine which one is best for you, you'll want to think about your travel habits, spending profile, and general preferences.

Travel habits

Consumers who travel frequently may benefit more from a premium travel card that offers a broad range of perks, while more casual travelers may be better off with a mid-tier or no-annual-fee travel card. 

If you're loyal to a specific airline or hotel chain, it could make sense to get an airline or hotel credit card, but if you don't want to be tied down to a single brand, a general travel card might be the right move.

You'll also want to think about how you travel and which travel card benefits would give you the best experience. For example, if your home airport has one or more airport lounges, it can make sense to get a card that offers lounge access. 

Spending profile

Most travel credit cards offer tiered rewards, meaning you'll earn bonus rewards on certain spending categories. If you spend a lot in certain areas of your budget, try to find a card that will reward you more for those purchases. 

However, if you don't spend a lot in any single category or you don't want to earn a low rewards rate on most of your spending, consider a card that offers a high, flat rewards rate on everything.

General preferences

Consider other features you're looking for in a travel credit card. Options may include transfer partners, straightforward benefits, redemption options, 0% APR promotions, and more. 

As you research and compare travel credit cards, familiarize yourself with all of their benefits to determine which one feels like the best fit based on your needs and preferences.

Frequently asked questions

Which card is better for international travel.

Generally speaking, you'll want a credit card that doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee. With cards that do charge this fee, you'll typically pay an extra 3% on all of your purchases made abroad.

Additionally, Visa and Mastercard credit cards tend to be better for international travel because they're more widely accepted than American Express and Discover credit cards. If you have an Amex or Discover card, consider bringing a Visa or Mastercard as a backup.

Is Visa or Mastercard better for travel?

Mastercard boasts acceptance in more than 210 countries, while Visa says it operates in more than 200 countries. So, if you're traveling to a country that's off the beaten path, so to speak, Mastercard may be a better choice. But for most major international destinations, you're likely fine with either Visa or Mastercard.

What is the best credit card to accumulate travel miles?

Miles have historically been associated with airline frequent flyer programs, but some card issuers, including Capital One and Discover, use the miles nomenclature for their rewards currency. 

With that said, the best miles credit card for you depends on your travel habits and preferences. If you want to earn miles with a particular airline, check out that airline's co-branded credit cards to see which one offers the best fit. If you want more general rewards, consider a card that offers miles or points with more flexible redemption options.

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

Best no annual fee travel credit cards of April 2024

Fortune Recommends™ has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Fortune Recommends™ and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.  

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.  

Travel rewards cards are a lot like gyms. The best ones may come with tons of added benefits (saunas, yoga class, etc.) but they also cost a lot, usually with a big financial commitment upfront. 

As a result, whether you’re considering a Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card (with its $95 annual fee) or a CrossFit membership, you probably have the same question on your mind: will I really use it enough to justify paying for it? 

While there aren’t any free gyms we know of, there thankfully are plenty of no-annual-fee travel rewards cards that require essentially zero commitment. And just like an ab roller or a Richard Simmons DVD, you can simply use them a few times, forget about them, and put them in a drawer until beach season. Or, you can stick with it and make them part of your daily routine—whatever works for you.

You’re also far more likely to see “instant results” with these cards, too. From 100,000-point welcome bonuses to rewards for paying rent, free travel insurance to 3X on gas, these cards offer way more than you’d expect for a fee of $0 per year. 

The best no-annual-fee travel cards for April 2024

Best overall: bilt mastercard, best for hotel rewards: ihg one rewards traveler credit card, best for airline rewards: united gateway℠ card, best for travel earnings: wells fargo autograph℠ card, best for flat-rate earnings: capital one ventureone rewards credit card.

The Bilt Mastercard allows you to earn points from paying rent and transfer them 1:1 to well over a dozen different travel partners including United MileagePlus and Marriott Bonvoy. Toss in some surprisingly robust travel insurance and you have our unconventional—yet logical—choice for the best overall no-annual-fee travel card of 2024.

Bilt Mastercard®

See Rates and Fees

Special feature

Rewards rates.

• 1x Earn 1X points on rent up to 100K/year
• 1x Earn 3X points on dining
• 2x Earn 2X points on travel
• 1x Earn 1X points on other purchases
• Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points
• Uniquely earns points on rent
• Rent Day bonus every first of the month offers double points (excluding rent)
• Robust travel transfer partners
• Cash redemption rate is poor
• No traditional welcome bonus
• Travel perks: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection, Trip Delay Reimbursement, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
• See this page for details
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None

Why we like this card: As mentioned, the Bilt Mastercard’s most compelling feature is that it allows you to pay rent with a credit card—even if your landlord doesn’t take plastic—and avoid the transaction fee paying rent by credit card would typically incur. Then, as long as you complete five transactions each month, you’ll trigger 1X rewards on your rent payments. 

Note that rewards on rent are capped at 100,000 points per year.

In terms of earning potential, if you pay the median ~$2,000 rent in the U.S., you could earn approximately 24,000 points per year which can be used to book travel in Bilt’s portal at a value of 1.25 cents per point or transferred to any of Bilt’s airline or hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio. In other words, you could likely earn a domestic flight with United or a weekend stay at Hyatt, all for simply paying rent on time.

The Bilt card also provides trip cancellation and interruption protection, trip delay reimbursement, and primary rental car insurance (terms apply)—perks you wouldn’t typically find on a no-annual-fee credit card.

If you’re looking for a hotel rewards card that offers the most free nights for no annual fee, wait until you read about the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card. With a six-figure welcome bonus, up to 17X on stays and other compelling rewards, it’s currently the gold standard for no-fee hotel rewards.

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

Intro bonus.

• 17x Earn up to 17X points when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts 
• 3x Earn 3X points on dining, utilities, internet, cable, and phone services, select streaming services, and at gas stations
• 2x Earn 2X points on all other purchases
• Generous welcome bonus not typically seen in a $0 annual fee card
• Travel protections that are unusual for a no-annual-fee card
• Fourth night free on award bookings
• Limited redemption options outside of IHG
• IHG points are worth less than some other rewards currencies
• Silver status granted with the card has limited benefit
• Additional perks: Trip cancelation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, purchase protection, ability to spend to Gold status
• Foreign transaction fee:None

Why we like this card: We like calling the IHG One Rewards Traveler card the “Liam Hemsworth” of travel rewards cards because it lives in the shadow of its big brother—the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card —but still delivers plenty of quality and substance in its own right (with no annual fee, to boot). 

For starters, you can get a welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, potentially worth around $500 to $700 in IHG redemption. 

Plus, enjoy up to 17X points when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts, instant Silver Elite status and a handy bonus where you redeem points for three consecutive nights and get the fourth night in your stay free. So, if you book a three-night stay using your welcome bonus, you’ll essentially be getting a complimentary four-night stay at a nice IHG property for no annual fee. The IHG One Rewards program could be very rewarding for the right traveler.

Check out our full review of the IHG One Rewards Traveler .

As a no-annual-fee airline card, the United Gateway℠ Card currently edges out its rival the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card by offering a more generous welcome bonus and travel insurance that the Delta card does not provide. If you fly occasionally and would like to earn miles, but aren’t willing to make the commitment of $95 or more for a mid-tier airline card with more perks, the Gateway is a strong choice. 

United Gateway℠ Card

• 2x 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, including tickets, Economy Plus, in-flight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, baggage service charges and other United purchases.
• 2x 2 miles per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare services, taxicabs, train tickets, tolls, and mass transit.
• 1x 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
• No annual fee or foreign transaction fee
• Reward bonus categories outside of United Airlines
• Robust travel protections for a no-annual-fee card
• No baggage or expanded award availability benefits like with other United cards
• Subject to Chase 5/24 rule.
• United perks: 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Gateway Card
• Other perks: Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Trip Cancellation/Interruption insurance, Purchase Protection, Extended Warranty
• Foreign transaction fee: None

Why we like this card: The United Gateway card offers 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting plus 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Considering a United Mile is worth roughly around 1.2 cents these days, effectively earning 2.4 cents back on everyday purchases is a solid value proposition. 

You’ll also get a welcome bonus of 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. And, you can save with a discount of 25% back on United in-flight and Club Premium drink purchases. 

New cardholders will enjoy a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, after 21.99%–28.99% variable applies.

If the United Gateway card has a small lead on the Delta Skymiles Blue Amex at this point, it soars ahead (pun intended) when you look at the included travel and shopping protections. Both cards offer secondary rental car insurance, but only the Gateway includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty protection. 

So, if you’re seeking a no-annual-fee card you can use to rack up miles—and you either tend to fly United most of the time or you’re at minimum not devoted to a competing airline—the United Gateway is the card to beat.

Check out our full review of the United Gateway Card for more info.

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, see this page  

With a generous welcome bonus in exchange for an attainable spend amount, 3X on travel, and a fancy name, you’d think the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card would command an annual fee of at least $95. But it doesn’t, making it a superb candidate for general travel use.

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Intro bonus.

• 3X 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans
• 1X 1X points on other purchases
• No annual fee
• 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months (that's a $200 cash redemption value)
• Points transfer to partners
• Car rental insurance is secondary
• No travel insurance
• Transfer partners are limited
• Additional perks: Cell Phone Protection: Provides up to $600 in cell phone protection when you pay your monthly cell bill with your Wells Fargo Autograph card. Coverage is subject to a $25 deductible and limited to two claims every 12-month period.
• Foreign transaction fee: N/A

Why we like this card: The Wells Fargo Autograph offers unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans and even your landline bill too if you have one, plus 1X points on other purchases—all without charging an annual fee. And, to make traveling a little cheaper/less stressful, you’ll also get $600 worth of cell phone protection (minus a $25 deductible) as long as you pay your phone bill with this card and secondary rental car insurance. 

Cardholders can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to Wells Fargo’s first wave of transfer partners including Air France‑KLM Flying Blue, Avianca Lifemiles, British Airways Executive Club, AerClub, and Iberia Plus and 1:2 to Choice Privileges. 

But even if you aren’t a member of those loyalty programs, earning 3X on dining, travel, gas, and more is hard to pass up. You can redeem points at a value of 1 cent each to offset past purchases on your account, meaning you can wield the Autograph either as a no-annual-fee travel card or as a cash-back card effectively earning unlimited 3% back in a wide swath of useful categories. 

Check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Autograph .

Sometimes, you just want a card that offers a little more than 1X on every purchase—without having to worry about what this quarter’s rotating rewards are, or whether a specific merchant qualifies as “groceries” for the purposes of your card’s rewards. If you value simplicity and the lack of an annual fee in your travel card, you’ll probably be a fan of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card and its straightforward rewards program.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Reward Rates

• 5x Earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 1.25x Earn 1.25x miles on every other purchase
• Flexible travel rewards
• No foreign transaction fee
• Maximizing Capital One Miles requires a learning curve
• Cash redemption value is limited
• The VentureOne offers travel accident insurance, rental car coverage, extended warranty protection, exclusive access to events through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment

Why we like this card: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards offers 1.25X miles per dollar spent on everyday purchases and 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. That’s pretty much all that you have to remember. You can also get a nice welcome bonus of 20,000 miles after spending $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, which is a solid payout for a very attainable spending target. 

Capital One Miles can be transferred to well over a dozen airline and hotel partners, most at a 1:1 rate. Partners include Air Canada’s Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Choice Privileges, Virgin Red, and Wyndham Rewards, among others. Other ways to book travel include redeeming miles through Capital One’s portal or making the purchase directly, paying with your card like normal, then using miles for a statement credit to cover the transaction. 

The Venture One also offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months (after that, the variable APR will be 19.99%–29.99%). There’s an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account during the first 15 months that your account is open , then 4% per transfer for any promotional APR offered after. 

Come to think of it, provided you have the excellent credit needed to apply, the VentureOne could make a great travel companion for a grad student given its simplicity, lengthy intro APR period and low spending threshold required to trigger the welcome bonus.

Check out our full review of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards .

Frequently asked questions

Which card is best for international transactions without extra charges.

Zero foreign transaction fees is actually a common benefit among travel rewards cards, including many with no annual fee. For example, neither the Bilt Mastercard nor the United Gateway card charges a foreign currency conversion fee. 

What is the best travel credit card for a young person? 

If you’re still paying rent, the Bilt Mastercard is an excellent choice since it can generate points from rent payments which can then be transferred 1:1 to well over a dozen airline and hotel partners. If you’d prefer a card with a welcome bonus, which the Bilt card lacks, the IHG One Rewards Traveler card currently offers a massive welcome bonus for a no-annual-fee card—potentially worth hundreds of dollars toward a future IHG hotel stay. 

Is a travel card with an annual fee worth it?

Using a travel rewards card with an annual fee can be worth it as long as you’re extracting enough points and benefits to justify paying the fee each year. If you travel infrequently or just want one less fee to worry about, consider one of the no-annual-fee cards on our list above. But, the best perks and protections are typically available on cards with annual fees.

For example, the Capital One Venture X card offers a $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel. If you use that every year, you’ve gone a long way toward offsetting the $395 annual fee. You also get 10,000 bonus miles, worth at least $100 toward travel, every year starting on your account anniversary.

Methodology

To bring you our top picks for the best travel rewards cards with no annual fee, the Fortune Recommends surveyed more than a dozen cards currently available from today’s top issuers. From there, we ranked each one based on the following core categories and weights:

• Welcome bonus (10%): Some cards—even those with no annual fee—offer welcome bonuses that you can earn once you make enough purchases within a certain time frame, such as spending $1,000 within three months of account opening.
• Travel earnings (25%): These are the point rewards you’d earn by making travel-related purchases (e.g. 3X on hotels, 2X on airfare).
• Car rental insurance (15%): Many, but not all travel-centric rewards cards include an auto rental collision damage waiver, which allows you to decline a portion of the rental company’s insurance and save potentially up to $30 per day. We gave extra consideration to if a card offers primary rental car insurance versus secondary, because primary kicks in immediately in a covered scenario—whereas secondary only applies after your own, personal insurance. 
• Travel insurance benefits (15%): Some travel rewards cards automatically apply trip cancellation/interruption insurance, lost/delayed luggage reimbursement and even travel accident insurance on travel bookings made using the card.
• Gas earning (5%): Since road trips remain a common form of travel, whether or not a card offers points rewards at the pump factored into our rankings.
• Dining earning (10%): If a no-annual-fee travel rewards card offered 2X or more on restaurant purchases it favored well in this category.

The remaining 20% was based on the card’s main focus: hotel, airline or general travel rewards. 

• For general travel—points transferrable to partners (20%): Points are literally worth more if you can transfer them to certain partners, so a card’s ability to transfer rewards to airline and hotel partners factored into our rankings.
• For hotel rewards—free award night with booking (20%): Some hotel rewards cards offer a BOGO-like perk where if you redeem a certain number of nights with points you get an extra tacked on for free.
• For airline rewards—ability to spend towards status (20%): Most airline rewards cards allow you to earn miles, but not all of them count those miles towards your next loyalty status. If a card treated them as “qualifying miles,” it fared better in this category.

Lastly, just keep in mind that virtually every aspect of a travel rewards card—from the rewards to the welcome bonus and fee structure—is subject to change, which could impact how many miles or points you earn. 

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefits guide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.  

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.  

EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE : The advice, opinions, or rankings contained in this article are solely those of the Fortune Recommends ™ editorial team. This content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of our affiliate partners or other third parties.

Guide to travel rewards credit cards

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The best 8 credit cards for beginners: Build credit and earn rewards

Choosing the right beginner credit card that aligns with your spending habits and financial goals is essential to build a strong credit score and maximize rewards.

Kevin Payne

Kevin Payne is a finance and family travel expert. He writes about credit cards, travel, student loans, saving money, homeownership, careers, and entrepreneurship. His work has appeared in Forbes Advisor, The Ascent, FinanceBuzz, Slickdeals, Student Loan Planner, and more. He is working toward accreditation as an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC).

Hanna Horvath

Hanna Horvath is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Bankrate's senior editor of content partnerships.

Updated April 11, 2024, 6:04 AM EDT

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New to the world of credit cards? Choosing a card that aligns with your spending habits, offers valuable rewards, and helps you build a solid credit history is important. 

Here are our picks for the best beginner credit cards. We evaluated each card based on credit score requirements, annual fees, rewards, and additional benefits.

Whether you're looking to earn cash back on everyday purchases, rack up travel miles for your dream vacation, or establish a positive credit history, there’s a card out there. 

Best starter credit cards 

While credit newbies may not be able to access luxury travel benefits or above-average rewards, there are still cards you can qualify for. The best beginner credit cards offer entry into the world of credit and provide an opportunity to boost your score. 

• Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card : Best for flat-rate cash back 
• Chase Freedom Unlimited® : Best for tiered cash back 
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : Best for travel rewards
• Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card : Best secured card 

Discover it® Student Cash Back: Best for college students 

Petal® 2 “cash back, no fees” visa® credit card: best for no credit , opensky® secured visa® credit card: best for no credit check .

• Capital One Platinum Credit Card : Best for increasing credit limit

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for flat-rate cash back 

Who this card is for: Individuals with fair credit want to earn flat-rate cash back on their purchases. 

• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases 
• Unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 

Annual fee: $39 

With this card, you'll earn an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, regardless of the category. This means you don't have to worry about keeping track of rotating bonus categories or spending limits. Cash back can be redeemed for statement credits, direct deposit, or gift cards. 

One of the standout features of the QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards card is its low annual fee of just $39. While some cash back cards charge no annual fee, they often require a higher credit score. 

The QuicksilverOne card is more accessible to those with average credit, making it a great option for beginners. Plus, Capital One will review your account for a credit limit increase after six months of on-time payments, providing an opportunity to improve your credit score further. 

Consider pairing this card with another Capital One card to maximize rewards.

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Pros and Cons

• Low annual fee
• No rotating categories or spending caps to worry about
• Can qualify for a higher credit line within six months
• No foreign transaction fees
• No welcome bonus offer
• No intro APR offers
• High ongoing APR

Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best for tiered cash back 

Who it’s best for: Those who dine out and spend frequently at drugstores, and want to earn something back from their everyday spending. 

• 5% cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 2025) 
• 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel 
• 3% cash back on dining at restaurants and on drugstore purchases 
• 1.5% cash back on all other purchases 

Annual fee: $0 

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is one of the best cash back cards out there, offering a simple way to earn elevated cash back. 

With this card, you'll earn a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases, similar to the Capital One QuicksilverOne. However, you can earn 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards and 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases. 

One of the most appealing aspects of the Freedom Unlimited is its $0 annual fee. Plus, if you have a Chase card like the Sapphire Preferred , you can pool rewards to unlock more redemption value through Chase's travel portal.

Chase Freedom Unlimited® Pros and Cons

• 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases
• 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
• No annual fee
• Requires good to excellent credit for approval

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for travel rewards 

Who this card is for: Those who want to earn flexible travel rewards for a lower annual fee. 

• 5X points on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards 
• 5X total points on Lyft rides (Through March 2025) 
• 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases 
• 2X points on other travel 
• 1X points on other purchases 

Annual fee: $95

If you love to travel, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a top-notch travel credit card for beginners. This card offers a solid welcome bonus, elevated points on travel purchases, and robust travel protections. You'll also earn bonus points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries. 

One of the key advantages of the Sapphire Preferred is its versatility. You can redeem points through the Chase portal or transfer them to over a dozen travel partners at a 1:1 ratio, unlocking even more value. This flexibility makes the Sapphire Preferred an ideal card for beginners who want to earn travel rewards. 

Though this card does come with a $95 annual fee, the value of the rewards and benefits can outweigh this cost for frequent travelers. The card also offers perks like trip insurance, baggage delay insurance, and primary rental car coverage.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Pros and Cons

• Generous welcome bonus
• High rewards on travel and dining
• Versatile redemption options, including travel partners
• Points worth 25% more when booking through Chase’s travel portal
• Additional travel benefits and protections
• $95 annual fee

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card: Best secured card 

Who this card is for: Individuals who want to build and access more credit. 

Rewards: None 

A secured credit card can be an excellent starting point for beginners with limited or no credit history. Secured cards require a cash deposit that serves as collateral, reducing the risk for the issuer and making it easier to qualify. The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is one of the best credit builder cards , offering a pathway to building credit with responsible use. 

With the Platinum Secured card , you'll need to make a refundable security deposit of $49, $99, or $200, depending on your creditworthiness. This deposit will determine your initial credit limit. 

While the card doesn't offer rewards, it's designed to help you establish credit by reporting your payments to the credit bureaus. One feature of the Platinum Secured card is the opportunity for a credit limit increase. 

Capital One reviews your account for a higher credit line after just six months of on-time payments and responsible use. This can help you improve your credit utilization ratio and boost your credit score.

Capital One Platinum Secured Pros and Cons

• Helps build credit with responsible use
• Refundable security deposit
• May qualify for credit limit increase in as little as six months
• Can qualify with fair credit
• Requires security deposit

Who this card is for: College students who want to build credit while earning rewards on their spending. 

• 5% cash back on each quarter’s activated rotating categories (up to $1,500 in combined purchases, then 1%) 
• 1% on all other purchases 

The Discover it® Student Cash Back card is an excellent card for students looking to earn rewards while establishing credit. With this card, you'll earn 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500 in combined purchases per quarter). 

You'll also earn 1% cash back on all other purchases. The bonus categories often include everyday expenses like groceries, gas stations, and dining out. This makes it easy for students to maximize rewards. 

Discover also offers a unique welcome bonus for new cardholders. At the end of your first year, Discover will match all the cash back you've earned, effectively doubling your rewards. This can be a significant bonus for students who use their cards regularly. 

The Discover it® Student Cash Back card also comes with a $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, making it a good choice for students studying or traveling abroad.

Discover it® Student Cash Back Pros and Cons

• 5% cash back on rotating categories (up to a quarterly limit)
• Cashback match in first year
• High bonus cash back rate
• Intro APR offer on purchases
• Bonus cash back is capped
• Requires active student status for approval
• Bonus categories must be activated quarterly
• Rotating categories may not align with spending habits

Who this card is for: Individuals with no credit history who won't qualify for a traditional credit card.

• Earn 1% cash back on eligible purchases or up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases when you make 12 on-time payments 
• 2%-10% cash back at select merchants 

If you're new to credit and haven't yet established a credit history, the Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card is a solid option. Rather than relying on credit scores, Petal uses an underwriting model that accounts for income, savings, and spending to determine approval. This means you may qualify for the card despite no prior credit history. 

The Petal 2 card offers a cash back rewards program that incentivizes responsible credit use. You'll earn 1% cash back on eligible purchases, but this rate can increase up to 1.5% after 12 on-time monthly payments. 

The card has no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and no late payment fees. Petal also provides a mobile app with budgeting tools and credit score tracking to help you stay on top of your finances.

Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Pros and Cons

• No credit history required for approval
• No late fees
• Earns cash back rewards
• Confusing rewards structure based on on-time payments
• Potentially high ongoing APR
• No intro APR offer

Who this card is for: Those who want to build credit and access a higher credit limit without a credit check. 

Annual fee: $35 

Those who have experienced credit challenges may appreciate the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card. Unlike other cards, OpenSky doesn't require a credit check, making it more accessible. 

To start with the OpenSky card, you must make a refundable security deposit of at least $200. This deposit will determine your credit limit. OpenSky reports payment activity to the major credit bureaus, helping you build a positive credit history. 

While the OpenSky card does have an annual fee of $35, it's a small price to pay for the opportunity to build credit when other options may not be available. The card also offers the flexibility to increase your credit limit by making additional deposits.

OpenSky® Secured Visa® Pros and Cons

• No credit check required
• $35 annual fee
• Requires a security deposit

Capital One Platinum Credit Card: Best for increasing credit limit 

Who it’s best for: Credit builders who want more spending flexibility 

As a beginner, one of your main goals should be establishing a strong credit history and gradually increasing your credit limit. 

The Capital One Platinum card is designed with this in mind, offering the potential for credit limit increases over time. With responsible use and on-time payments, you may qualify for a higher credit line in as little as six months. 

The Platinum card is meant for those with average credit. While the card doesn't offer rewards, its main focus is on helping you improve your credit standing. Capital One offers free credit monitoring, which can help you track your progress and identify areas for improvement.

Capital One Platinum Pros and Cons

• Designed for those with average credit
• Potential for credit limit increase after 6 months of on-time payments
• No rewards program
• Requires average credit for approval

How to build credit as a beginner 

Building a positive credit history is one of the most important reasons to get a credit card . Your credit score is a crucial factor that lenders, landlords, and even employers consider when deciding your financial reliability. A good credit score can open doors to better loan terms, lower interest rates, and more opportunities in the future. 

When you use a credit card smartly, you show lenders you can manage credit. This means making on-time payments, keeping your credit utilization low, and avoiding maxing out your credit limit. Each month, your card issuer reports your payments to the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Over time, this positive payment history contributes to a higher credit score.

Building credit takes time and consistency. As a beginner, you may start with a lower credit limit and higher interest rates. But as you show responsible credit use, you'll likely see your credit score improve and become eligible for better card offers.

One key factor in building credit is maintaining a low credit utilization ratio. This ratio represents the amount of credit you use compared to your total credit limit. Experts recommend keeping your credit utilization below 30%.

Another important habit is to pay your credit card bill on time every month. Late payments can significantly negatively impact your credit score and may result in added fees and interest charges. Consider setting up automatic payments or reminders to ensure you never miss a due date. 

It's also a good idea to monitor your credit report regularly. Many issuers provide free credit score tracking. Reviewing your report can help you identify areas for improvement and catch any potential errors or fraud early on.

Choosing the right credit card for your goals 

When selecting your first credit card, choosing one that aligns with your goals and spending habits is important. Different cards offer various rewards and benefits, so reviewing your options can help you find the best card. 

• Start by assessing your spending and identifying where you spend the most money. For example, if you dine out a lot, a credit card that offers bonus rewards at restaurants could be a good fit. A card with travel rewards might be a smart choice if you're a regular traveler. 
• Are you focused on building credit, or do you want to earn rewards? Some cards offer straightforward cash back, while others provide points or miles that can be redeemed for travel.
• Some cards charge annual fees, which can be worth paying if the rewards outweigh the cost. As a beginner, you may want to start with a no annual fee card to lower your expenses while you get comfortable managing credit. 
• Sign-up bonuses can be enticing, but you must ensure you can meet the requirements to qualify. Don't overspend just to earn a bonus — this can lead to high balances and potential debt. 
• Consider your likelihood of approval when applying for a credit card. You may need to start with a secured credit card or a card designed for those with limited credit history. Over time, as you build your credit , you'll likely become eligible for better card offers.

Managing your first credit card 

Once you've received your first credit card, it's a good idea to use it responsibly. Here are some best practices to keep in mind: 

• Create a budget and track your expenses. Before using your card, establish a budget to ensure you're not spending more than you can afford to pay back. Regularly track your purchases and compare them against your budget to stay on track. 
• Pay your bill on time and in full. Consistently making on-time payments is crucial for building credit. Aim to pay your credit card balance monthly to avoid interest charges. If you can't pay in full, always make at least the minimum payment by the due date. 
• Keep your credit utilization low. Aim to keep your credit card balance well below your credit limit. High credit utilization can negatively impact your credit score, so keep your balance below 30% of your available credit. 
• Avoid maxing out your credit card. Maxing out your credit card can hurt your credit score and may signal to lenders that you're overextended. If you're consistently hitting your credit limit, consider requesting a credit limit increase or making more frequent payments throughout the month. 
• Monitor your credit score and report. Regularly check your credit score and review your credit report for errors or suspicious activity. 
• Use your credit card for everyday purchases. To build credit, using your credit card regularly is important, but only for purchases you can afford to pay back. Stick to your budget and avoid using your credit card for impulse buys or expensive items you can't pay off quickly. 
• Know when to consider upgrading or changing cards. As your credit improves and your financial needs change, you may consider upgrading to a credit card with better rewards or features. But be cautious about applying for too many cards at once, as this can lead to multiple hard inquiries on your credit report and potentially lower your credit score. 

Frequently asked questions about beginner cards 

What credit score do i need to get approved for a credit card.

The credit score you need to get approved depends on the card issuer and the specific card you're applying for. Generally, a good credit score (670 or higher) will give you the best chances of approval for most cards. Some credit cards are designed for those with fair (580-669) or limited credit history. Secured credit cards are also an option for those with poor credit or no credit history , as they require a cash deposit that serves as collateral.

How do I apply for a credit card?

To apply for a credit card, you must provide personal information, such as your name, address, Social Security number, and income. You can usually apply online through the credit card issuer's website. The issuer will review your application to determine your eligibility.

What should I do if my credit card application is denied?

If your credit card application is denied, don't be discouraged. The issuer will send you a letter explaining the reason for the denial. Some common reasons for denial include insufficient income, limited credit history, or a low credit score. 

To improve your chances of approval, focus on building your credit by making on-time payments on your existing credit accounts, keeping your credit utilization low, and disputing any errors on your credit report.

How can I avoid paying interest on my credit card?

To avoid paying interest on your credit card , pay your balance in full each month by the due date. Credit card issuers often offer a grace period between the end of your billing cycle and the payment due date. During this period, you can pay your balance without incurring interest charges. 

But, if you carry a balance from one month to the next, you'll be charged interest on your outstanding balance. If you cannot pay in full, aim to pay as much as possible to minimize interest charges.

Can I have more than one credit card as a beginner?

As a beginner, starting with one credit card to build credit responsibly is generally recommended. However, as you become more comfortable managing credit and your credit score improves, you may consider adding a second card to maximize rewards or take advantage of different benefits. 

Just be sure to manage all your credit cards responsibly and avoid applying for too many cards quickly, as this can negatively impact your credit score. 

The bottom line 

By understanding your financial goals and spending habits, you can find a card that fits your needs. Whether you're looking to earn cash back, travel rewards, or establish a positive credit history, a card on this list can help you achieve your goals. 

Remember, the key to success with credit cards is to use them responsibly. Always make timely payments, keep your balances low, and avoid overspending. By developing good credit habits, you'll be well on your way to building a strong financial foundation and unlocking even greater opportunities in the future.

Editorial disclosure: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.

Should You Use a Credit Card Travel Portal?

Unlock the details of credit card travel portals and learn how to maximize your benefits.

Using a Credit Card Travel Portal

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Using a credit card portal to book travel could help you save money and help you earn more points or redeem travel credits.

Key Takeaways

• Credit card travel portals search across multiple travel options, giving you the power to compare prices.
• You can use your credit card or rewards to book travel with your credit card issuer's travel portal.
• Some cards may offer travel credits and benefits when you book using the associated travel portal. 

You have many options for booking travel, whether you want to book directly with airlines and hotels, use an online travel agency or book with your credit card's travel portal. Using a credit card travel portal may allow you to take advantage of cardholder benefits and credits and give you additional choices for your booking.

Understand how to use credit card travel portals to save money on your next trip and maybe get some elevated perks along the way – but also recognize when it doesn't make sense.

What Are Credit Card Travel Portals?

Similar to online travel agencies, such as Expedia or Booking.com, credit card travel portals are online travel booking platforms. Cardholders can use credit card travel portals to browse and book travel options, including flights, hotels, rental cars and experiences using your credit card or rewards.

Credit card travel portals include:

• American Express Travel.
• Capital One Travel.
• Chase Travel.
• Citi Travel.

Some credit cards offer cardholder savings or perks when you book travel using the issuer's credit card portal, such as travel credits or cardholder privileges, including free breakfast or late checkout.

How Credit Card Travel Portals Stack Up

When you use a credit card travel portal, the amount and method of payment may be the deciding factors in how you book. Using a credit card travel portal to book travel can save you money, but not always.

We compared a midweek economy flight from Los Angeles to New York and a weeklong stay at a three-star hotel in Manhattan. In some cases, credit card travel portals were competitive, but Expedia had the lowest overall price for flight and hotel costs on this test trip.

Still, this is just one example, and travel prices can fluctuate depending on how you book. It's always a good idea to compare all of your options.

Benefits of Credit Card Travel Portals

Booking your travel with a credit card travel portal can help you earn more points or redeem travel credits. Some examples:

• Cardholders of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card get a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through the Capital One Travel site. When booking on the Capital One Travel site, cardholders earn unlimited 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars and 5 miles per dollar on flights. ( See Rates and Fees )
• With The Platinum Card ® from American Express , cardholders get a $200 annual hotel credit for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel and earn five points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. ( See Rates and Fees )
• Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card holders get a $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit and earn five points per dollar on Chase Travel purchases.

"Using the travel credits is huge," says JT Genter, editor in chief of rewards and travel tracking tool AwardWallet. "Card issuers are leaning more towards those only being accessible through the portal."

Credit card travel portal bookings may help your points go further, too. "Because I have a Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, when I use the (Chase) portal to book travel, my points get an extra 25% bump," says Chip Chinery, personal finance blogger at Chip's Money Tips. For example, you'd only pay 100,000 points for a flight or hotel that would require 125,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book without the points boost.

Helpful features can add up to savings on credit card travel portals. For example, Capital One Travel offers a price match guarantee. Genter used the Capital One Travel price match feature on a flight from Cairo to Marrakech, Morocco. Although he booked with Capital One Travel, an online travel agency had a better price. He was able to price match with Capital One Travel to get a travel credit.

Genter points out that cardholders of The Platinum Card from American Express can take advantage of the International Airline Program for potential savings on international flights in first, business or premium economy.

You may also get benefits for booking with credit card travel portals, particularly when booking hotels. For example:

• Cardholders of The Platinum Card from American Express get elite benefits at participating hotels, including early check-in, room upgrades, breakfast for two, a $100 experience credit, complimentary Wi-Fi and guaranteed 4 p.m. check-out.
• If you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve ® , you can book The Edit properties through Chase Travel and receive benefits, including daily breakfast for two, a $100 on-property credit, room upgrades, early check-in and late check-out and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Drawbacks of Credit Card Travel Portals

Travel credits and on-property perks are compelling reasons to use a credit card travel portal. However, it pays to compare pricing among your card's portal, direct booking or an online travel agency, because the lowest-priced option depends on the trip you're taking. Also, you may forfeit some benefits, as credit card travel portals are third-party bookings.

With a third-party booking, you'll have less flexibility in customer service and cancellation than you would if you booked directly. For example, if you're dealing with a delayed flight and need service from the airline, you may be directed to the travel portal customer service. You may have limited options for cancellation and how you get your money or rewards back.

Another major point to consider with third-party bookings: You generally won't be able to earn points or miles with the airline or hotel, though you can earn points with your card. Additionally, you may not be able to use elite benefits for any status you hold. For example, if you have Hilton Honors status that entitles you to a daily food and beverage credit, you're not likely to get it when you book a stay with your credit card travel portal.

When to Use a Credit Card Travel Portal

Booking travel with a credit card travel portal can make sense in some scenarios. For instance:

• You want to compare your travel options across multiple airlines or hotels in the portal.
• You have a travel credit available that can only be redeemed through the issuer's travel portal.
• You have rewards you want to redeem on the portal, and booking this way offers a good redemption value.
• You want to take advantage of benefits, such as elite hotel perks that you can get when using a credit card travel portal.
• Your booking options on the portal are priced lower compared with other options.
• Booking on the portal earns elevated rewards, and the prices and benefits are comparable to those of other booking options.

"It makes sense if you want to take advantage of the credits but also to earn bonus points," says Genter. "And sometimes, they have promotions such as hyper-targeted offers."

Tags: credit cards

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