Name: The 6 Best Travel Credit Cards to Apply for This October
Brand: afar.com
SKU: afar-com-4
Availability: OnlineOnly

critic

The 6 Best Travel Credit Cards to Apply for This October

preview

Tips + NewsLoyalty + RewardsAFAR partners with CreditCards.com and may receive a commission from card issuers. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Compensation may impact how an offer is presented. Our coverage is independent and objective, and has not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are entirely those of the AFAR editorial team.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.It’s all treats and no tricks this October when it comes to credit card offers. As Capital One solidifies status as a top travel card company, it is courting new cardholders with generous introductory offers on both the low-fee Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the higher-fee Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn up to 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within three months from account opening. While both cards are strong choices, we’re partial to the Venture X for its myriad benefits, even though it commands a $395 annual fee versus the regular Venture’s $95. (Read our full comparison of these cards.)Moreover, the top card through Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, has rolled out a new, lucrative welcome offer, available until November 1, 2023. You’ll earn two Free Night Awards (valued up to 85,000 points each) after spending $6,000 on the card in the first six months. If maxed out, this equates to a value of up to $2,400 for the two rewards. In addition, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card has raised its introductory bonus to 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $5,000 within the first six months of card membership.To find out more about these amazing offers—plus a few others—we’ve done all the homework for you, narrowing it down to the best six travel credit cards to sign up for this October.Best for: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is best for those who want an excellent travel credit card that pays for itself through credits, benefits, lounge access, and a rewarding earnings structure while also offering flexibility in redeeming points.Why now? Capital One is going all-in on travel for its Venture X cardholders, rolling out its own collection of airport lounges for cardholders, its Premier Collection (offering special perks at hundreds of top hotels globally), and its Lifestyle Collection (granting cardholders benefits at boutique hotels worldwide).Welcome offer: With the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.Annual fee: $395. (For those who dislike paying annual fees, check out the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, which carries only a $95 annual fee.)Earn points: Earn 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5 miles per dollar spent on flights booked through Capital One Travel. All other purchases earn 2 miles per dollar spent.Credits: When booking through Capital One Travel, receive $300 in credits each calendar year. Get a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit once every four years (up to $100). Receive an annual 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary.Key perks: Access Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and Plaza Premium lounges at airports. The card is also smart for those who plan to add cardholders to their accounts. Up to four can be added at no cost. Priority Pass lounge membership and access to Capital One and Plaza Premium airport lounges extends to each of these additional cardholders at no extra cost. As far as redemptions go, miles transfer to 16 airline and hotel partners.Best for: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card is best for Marriott loyalists who can take full advantage of Platinum Elite Status, which usually requires 50 nights per year and comes with benefits like lounge access, enhanced room upgrades, and 4 p.m. late checkout, all subject to availability.Why now? The card comes with Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Status and an annual anniversary Free Night Award, up to 85,000. The card’s current bonus (until November 1, 2023) allows new cardholders to earn two other 85,000 Free Night Awards.Welcome offer: With the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card, earn two 85,000 Free Night Awards after spending $6,000 on the card in the first six months. Each award is valid for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. If maxed out correctly, this equates to a value of up to $1,200 when redeeming each reward.Annual fee: $650. (See rates and fees.) The $650 annual fee may seem steep at first, but after factoring in the value of the annual certificate (which can be often redeemed at properties that command $1,200 per night), the coveted Platinum status, airport lounge access (yes, that too!), and statement credits, the annual fee is completely offset.Earn points: Earn six points per dollar spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, three points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, and double points on all other purchases.Credits: Earn up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (rationed as $25 back per month) for dining purchases at restaurants worldwide. This credit replaces the previous annual $300 in statement credits for Marriott Bonvoy hotel purchases. Get up to $100 in statement credits once every four years toward the application fee for Global Entry or up to $85 once every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck.Key perks: Cardholders receive automatic Platinum Status and automatically bank 25 elite night credits per calendar year (which is the level for Gold but a boost to your balance for climbing the elite ladder). After card renewal month, get one Free Night Award each year that you can use for one night, up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Obtain complimentary Priority Pass Select Membership (enrollment required), granting access to the cardholder plus two guests to over 1,400 airline lounges worldwide.Best for: The mid-tier card of the Capital One Venture portfolio, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers just enough travel perks for the casual traveler, has a low annual fee, and currently flaunts an impressive introductory bonus.Why now? The card is currently offering a huge bonus for a low-fee card. Cardholders also get two entries annually at Capital One’s growing collection of airport lounges or Plaza Premium lounges, plus access to Capital One’s Lifestyle Collection (granting cardholders benefits at boutique hotels worldwide).Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 within three months from account opening.Annual fee: $95Earn points: Earn five miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and two miles per dollar spent on everything else.Credits: Up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four yearsKey perks: Get two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or Plaza Premium Lounges plus access to the Lifestyle Collection when booking on Capital One Travel.Best for: The Platinum Card from American Express is best for those who value luxury benefits on land and in the air, including the best in airport lounge access (including coveted Centurion Lounges), and understand such benefits (plus a program that includes copious statement credits) far outweigh a hefty annual fee.Why now? Besides a good introductory welcome offer, there are travel benefits aplenty and excellent benefits for additional cardholders.Welcome offer: With the Platinum Card from American Express, earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 in the first six months of card membership. (Terms apply.)Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees)Earn points: Earn five points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 per calendar year, and on prepaid hotel bookings made through American Express Travel. Earn one point per dollar on everything else.Credits: Statement credits include up to $200 per calendar year on airline incidentals, up to $200 per calendar year on Fine Hotels + Resorts or the Hotel Collection bookings (minimum two-night stay) with American Express Travel, up to $200 annually for Uber/UberEats (given in Uber Cash), up to $100 annually at Saks Fifth Avenue, up to $240 annually on digital entertainment (applicable toward charges on Hulu, Disney+, SiriusXM, and the New York Times), up to $300 annually toward select Equinox gym memberships, a $155 Walmart+ Credit subject to auto-renewal (to cover the monthly membership cost of Walmart+), and up to $100 in statement credits once every 4 years toward the application fee for Global Entry, or up to $85 once every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck. Enrollment required for select benefits; terms apply.Key perks: The best in airport lounge access (including Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and more) plus Gold elite status in Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, which extends to both primary and additional cardholders; in terms of points spending, Amex Membership Rewards points transfer to 18 airlines and 3 hotel partners.Best for: The Chase Sapphire Reserve is best for those who want a top travel credit card that earns points quickly and comes with the industry’s leading travel protections.Why now? The Chase Sapphire Reserve is never a bad idea, especially with a 60,000-point introductory offer. It carries the most thorough travel coverage of any credit card on the market, hands down, offers a solid earnings structure, and gives the most comprehensive Priority Pass access among the major card issuers (which includes Priority Pass restaurants and lounge alternatives).Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on new purchases within the first three months. You can cash those bonus points out for 1.50 cents apiece—a value equal to $900—on travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal.Annual fee: $550Earn points: Earn 10 points per dollar spent on hotel and car rentals through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 5 points per dollar spent on flights through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3 points per dollar on dining, including takeout and international restaurants, and 3 points per dollar on travel not booked through Chase—including airfare, hotels, trains, rideshares, and more. Earn 1 point per dollar on other purchases.Credits: Earn $300 back each year in statement credits for travel purchases, effectively reducing the annual fee to $250. Also, receive up to a $100 Global Entry or TSA Precheck or Nexus credit every four years.Key perks: Get Priority Pass Select Membership, allowing access to more than 1,400 airport lounges around the world in the Priority Pass network plus access to the current and upcoming Chase Sapphire Lounges by the Club (and the Sapphire Terrace). Moreover, Chase points are exceptionally versatile and can be transferred to 11 airlines and 3 hotel partners. Chase points can also be redeemed at 1.50 cents apiece for bookings through the Chase travel portal or with select categories, which change quarterly, under the “Pay Yourself Back” feature.Best for: The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card is best for travelers wanting to accrue hotel award nights quickly and automatic Gold Status without paying a high annual fee. Why now? When the card launched in September 2022, it wooed customers with a 125,000-point introductory bonus, which later dropped to 85,000 points. Now, that tempting introductory offer from last year has returned.Welcome offer: With the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card, earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $5,000 within the first six months of card membership.Annual fee: $250 (see rates and fees)Earn points: Earn six points per dollar spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, four points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year), and double points on all other purchases.Credits: NoneKey perks: Cardholders receive automatic Gold Status and earn a Free Night Award (worth up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points, not 85,000) after making $15,000 in purchases per year.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.TRAVEL NEWSUnited Unveils New Polaris Business Seat UpgradesPassport Wait Times Are Finally Coming Down—Here’s How Long It Takes NowCan Aspirin Help Prevent Blood Clots on Long Flights? Doctors Weigh In.More from AFARTrending NewsVisiting Iceland Is About to Get More Expensive—Here’s WhyTrending NewsGlobal Entry Just Made Getting Through Customs Even Faster—Here’s HowTrending NewsHow a Massive Debt-for-Nature Deal Will Help Protect the GalápagosLoad MoreAFAR JourneysDiscover the Thrills of Adventures in the Antarctic and Argentina on this Privately Guided Tour and CruiseImmerse Yourself in Colombia’s Rich, Romantic HistoryExplore the Ancient History of Sacred IsraelLoad More

Tips + NewsLoyalty + RewardsAFAR partners with CreditCards.com and may receive a commission from card issuers. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Compensation may impact how an offer is presented. Our coverage is independent and objective, and has not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are entirely those of the AFAR editorial team.Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to...

The 6 Best Travel Credit Cards to Apply for This October

No article scores yet.

CRITIC REVIEWS

PUBLIC REVIEWS