Best Credit Cards for Travel with No Annual Fee
Traveling can be an exhilarating experience, but the costs can add up quickly. One way to mitigate these expenses is by using travel credit cards that offer rewards and benefits without an annual fee. In this blog post, we’ll explore the advantages of using travel credit cards, highlight the top 10 no-annual-fee travel credit cards, and detail their features, eligibility criteria, where they can be used, and the best countries to use them in.
Advantages of Using Travel Credit Cards
- Rewards and Points: Earn points or miles on every purchase, which can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and more.
- Travel Perks: Enjoy benefits like travel insurance, rental car insurance, and access to airport lounges.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees: Save money on purchases made abroad with no foreign transaction fees.
Top 10 No-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Cards
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Features: Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- Eligibility: Requires good to excellent credit score (700+).
- Best For: All-around travel and everyday spending.
- Usage: Ideal for use in the United States and internationally due to no foreign transaction fees.
- Rewards: Points can be redeemed for travel, cash back, gift cards, and more.
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
- Features: Earn 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans.
- Eligibility: Requires good to excellent credit score (700+).
- Best For: Diverse spending categories.
- Usage: Great for domestic and international travel.
- Rewards: Points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, and more.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card
- Features: Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases.
- Eligibility: Requires good to excellent credit score (700+).
- Best For: Simple, straightforward rewards.
- Usage: Excellent for international travel with no foreign transaction fees.
- Rewards: Points can be redeemed for travel expenses, including flights, hotels, vacation packages, and more.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
- Features: Earn 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase.
- Eligibility: Requires good to excellent credit score (700+).
- Best For: Frequent travelers looking for flexible rewards.
- Usage: Ideal for use worldwide.
- Rewards: Miles can be redeemed for travel expenses or transferred to over 15 travel loyalty programs.
Discover it® Miles
- Features: Earn unlimited 1.5x miles on every dollar spent on all purchases.
- Eligibility: Requires good to excellent credit score (700+).
- Best For: Earning miles on everyday purchases.
- Usage: Best for domestic travel; no foreign transaction fees.
- Rewards: Miles can be redeemed for travel purchases or as a statement credit.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Card
- Features: Earn 4X points on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery, 2X points at grocery stores, gas stations, and on streaming services.
- Eligibility: Requires good to excellent credit score (700+).
- Best For: Dining and entertainment.
- Usage: Suitable for both domestic and international travel.
- Rewards: Points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, and more.
Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Features: Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar spent at Hilton properties, 5X points at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations, and 3X points on all other purchases.
- Eligibility: Requires good to excellent credit score (700+).
- Best For: Hilton hotel stays.
- Usage: Best used at Hilton properties worldwide.
- Rewards: Points can be redeemed for free nights at Hilton hotels and resorts.
Bilt World Elite Mastercard®
- Features: Earn 1X points on rent payments with no transaction fee, 2X points on travel, and 3X points on dining.
- Eligibility: Requires good to excellent credit score (700+).
- Best For: Rent payments and travel.
- Usage: Ideal for domestic use and travel.
- Rewards: Points can be redeemed for travel, rent, fitness classes, and more.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
- Features: Earn 3X points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 2X points on other travel purchases, and 1X point on all other purchases.
- Eligibility: Requires good to excellent credit score (700+).
- Best For: Marriott hotel stays.
- Usage: Best used at Marriott properties worldwide.
- Rewards: Points can be redeemed for free nights, flights, and more.
United℠ TravelBank Card
- Features: Earn 2% in TravelBank cash on United purchases and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- Eligibility: Requires good to excellent credit score (700+).
- Best For: United Airlines travelers.
- Usage: Ideal for use on United flights and travel-related purchases.
- Rewards: TravelBank cash can be used to book United flights.
Conclusion
Choosing the right travel credit card can significantly enhance your travel experience by offering rewards, perks, and savings. The top 10 no-annual-fee travel credit cards listed above provide a variety of benefits tailored to different travel needs and preferences. Whether you’re looking for flexible rewards, travel perks, or no foreign transaction fees, there’s a card on this list that can help you make the most of your travels. Happy traveling!