The 5 Best Credit Cards for Travelers Right Now

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Summer’s heating up—and so are the travel credit card offers. Whether you’re plotting a last-minute getaway or stacking points for your dream trip, now’s a prime time to pad that balance. Summer is traditionally a hot season for credit card launches and limited-time bonuses—and 2025 may be the most rewarding one yet.

Leading the charge? Chase, which just relaunched its 10th anniversary Chase Sapphire Reserve® with its biggest-ever welcome offer: 100,000 points plus a $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after spending $5,000 in the first three months. That alone turns heads—but the card’s new perks go even further, including up to $500 annually for hotels booked via Chase’s The Edit portal, $300 in restaurant credits through the new Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables program, $300 in StubHub credits, and $250 toward Apple TV+ and Apple Music. The catch? A new annual fee of $795—but depending on your travel habits, it could still be a net win.

Not to be outdone, American Express has unleashed its biggest bonuses yet on The Platinum Card® from American Express and American Express® Gold Card. These aren’t quite as plug-and-play (eligibility depends on your card history), but some applicants may see offers as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points for the Platinum (after spending $8,000 in six months) and 100,000 points for the Gold (after spending $6,000 in six months). The good news: You can check for approval and your exact welcome offer without a credit score hit (but note that welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer).

And then there’s Capital One. While the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card isn’t hitting a record-high bonus this month, its 75,000 miles bonus (after you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first three months from account opening), $300 annual travel credit, and growing network of luxe airport lounges (hello: Capital One Lounge at JFK) keep it in the top-tier conversation, especially with a still-reasonable $395 annual fee. Meanwhile, the $95-annual-fee Capital One Rewards Credit Card has a 75,000-mile bonus (after you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first three months from account opening) and at least 2x miles on every purchase.

So whether you’re chasing platinum-tier perks or prefer a lower-fee option with serious travel power, these are five of the best cards to consider applying for this summer.

1. Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Best for: Travelers who want a powerhouse points earner with some of the strongest travel protections—and now, one of its biggest welcome offers.

Why now? That eye-popping 100,000-point welcome offer plus a $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit is the highest we’ve ever seen. It’s a rare opportunity that won’t last forever.

Welcome offer: 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel promo credit after spending $5,000 in the first three months.

Annual fee: $795

Key benefits:

• Earn 8x points on travel booked through Chase Travel, 4x on flights and hotels booked directly, 3x on dining (including takeout and international), and 1x on everything else• $300 annual travel credit (automatically applied to purchases), effectively lowering the fee to $495
• $500 annual hotel credit via The Edit portal (split into two $250 credits per year)
• $300 annual restaurant credit via Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables program (split into two $150 credits per year)
• $300 annual StubHub credit (split into two $150 credits per year)
• $250 in Apple TV+ and Apple Music credits
• Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit every four years
• IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status through December 31, 2027
• $500 Southwest credit and A-List status when booking through Chase (after $75,000 in annual spend)
• Access to Chase Sapphire Lounges + Priority Pass Select (1,500+ global airport lounges)
• Points transfer to 14 airline hotel partners, including Hyatt, United, and Southwest

2. The Platinum Card® from American Express

Best for: Travelers who want top-tier luxury perks—think airport lounges, elite hotel status, and enough credits to justify that hefty annual fee.

Why now? American Express is offering some of its biggest welcome bonuses to date, plus stacked credits that can easily outweigh the cost of the card, if you’ll actually use them.

Welcome offer: You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $8,000 in the first six months. Offers vary, and you may not qualify if you’ve had the card before. You can check your exact offer—and get a decision—without a credit score hit.

Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees)

Key benefits:

• Earn 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000/year) and prepaid hotels via Amex Travel
• 1x points on all other purchases
• Over $1,400 in potential annual credits, including:
  • $200 airline incidental fee credit
  • $200 hotel credit (Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection)
  • $200 Uber Cash (monthly, when linked to your Uber account)
  • $240 digital entertainment credit (Hulu, Disney+, etc.)
  • $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit ($50 every six months)
  • $300 Equinox credit and $155 Walmart+ membership credit
• Up to $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit every four years
• Access to Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and more
• Gold status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy (extends to authorized users
• Points transfer to 20 airline and hotel partners

3. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Best for: Travelers who value premium perks that more than cover the cost of admission—think lounge access, flexible redemptions, and generous travel credits.

Why now? Capital One expands its travel ecosystem with new airport lounges, boutique-style “landings,” and hotel collections that unlock extra perks.

Welcome offer: 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months.

Annual fee: $395

Key benefits:

• Earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars, 5x on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 2x on everything else
• $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
• 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary
• Up to $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit every four years
• Complimentary access to Capital One Lounges, Landings, and Priority Pass for you and up to four authorized users (added at no cost)
• Miles transfer to 17 airline and hotel partners

4. American Express® Gold Card

Best for: Food lovers and frequent fliers who spend big at restaurants and supermarkets—and want points to show for it.

Why now? It’s one of AmEx’s most popular cards, and right now you may qualify for a welcome offer worth up to 100,000 points.

Welcome offer: You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 in the first six months. Offers vary by applicant.

Annual fee: $325 (see rates and fees)

Key benefits:

• Earn 4x points at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the USA) and at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year)
• 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or via AmexTravel.com
• 2x points on other travel (excluding airfare) booked through AmexTravel.com
• $120 annual Uber Cash (added as $10 monthly when Gold Card is linked to Uber)
• $120 annual dining credit (split into $10/month at participating vendors—enrollment required)
• Up to $100 experience credit on 2+ night stays at The Hotel Collection
• Points transfer to 20 airline and hotel partners
• Built-in travel protections, including car rental and baggage insurance

5. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Best for: Casual travelers who want straightforward rewards, flexible redemptions, and solid perks without the high annual fee.

Why now? A generous welcome bonus and easy 2x earning make this card a strong value pick for everyday spending and summer travel alike.

Welcome offer: 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months

Annual fee: $95

Key benefits:

• Earn 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn 2x miles on all other purchases
• Up to $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit every four years
• Discounted access to Capital One Lounges and Landings ($45 per visit)
• Access to the Capital One Lifestyle Collection with boutique hotel perks
• Miles transfer to 17 airline and hotel partners

Whether you’re chasing elite travel perks or just looking to earn rewards on everyday spending, these five cards offer some of the best values of the year. With record-high bonuses and fresh new benefits in play, now’s the time to see which one aligns best with your travel style—and start putting those points to work.

All information about the Chase Sapphire Reserve card has been collected independently by Afar. Chase Sapphire is no longer available through Afar. While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they are subject to change at any time, and may have changed or may no longer be available. 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.