- You can earn up to 100,000 Bilt Points in a calendar year without any transaction fees when paying rent, even if your landlord doesn't accept credit card payments
- The card earns 3 points per dollar spent on dining, 2 points per dollar spent on travel and 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases
- No annual fee
Credit Cards
Best Business Cards of July 2025
UPDATED
by Alex G
Jun 24, 2025
To help you maximize your travel experiences while minimizing spending. While we do receive compensation through our credit card application links, ads and clearly indicated sponsored content, our editorial content, points valuations and card analyses are entirely our own. Learn more about our advertising policy and product review methodology.
Bilt Mastercard®
Intro Offer
100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit
Annual Fee
$795
You'll earn
1-8X
Regular APR
20.24% - 28.74% Variable
Apply Now
at Bilt’s secure site Terms & restrictions apply.
See rates & FeesTop travel credit cards come with valuable perks and benefits. At The Points Guy, our team has handpicked a list of the best options for every type of traveler—from occasional vacationers to frequent flyers. These cards are designed to help you earn rewards and maximize savings.
Explore our partner travel cards to find the one that best fits your wallet.
Credit Cards Spotlight — Expert Ratings & Application Options
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Best for premium travel
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Intro Offer
Earn 75,000 miles
Annual Fee
$395
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
Recommended Credit
740-850
Excellent
Rewards Rate
10 MILES
10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5 MILES
5 Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
2 MILES
2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
Why we chose it
If you can maximize the $300 credit toward Capital One Travel, the Venture X’s annual fee effectively comes down to $95. Add in a 10,000-mile bonus every account anniversary (worth $185, according to TPG valuations) and lounge access, and the card may become the strongest option out there for a lot of travelers. Read our full review of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
Pros
Cons
- You can earn up to 100,000 Bilt Points in a calendar year without any transaction fees when paying rent, even if your landlord doesn't accept credit card payments
- The card earns 3 points per dollar spent on dining, 2 points per dollar spent on travel and 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases
- No annual fee
Additional Details
- Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One’s travel booking site
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you’ll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One’s travel booking site
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
Best for flexible rewards earning
American Express® Business Gold Card
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Intro Offer
Earn 100,000 points
Annual Fee
$375
Regular APR
18.49% - 29.24% Variable
Recommended Credit
Excellent to Good
Rewards Rate
4X
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.*
3X
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.*
2X
1X is earned for other purchases. **
Why we chose it
The Amex Business Gold card is a solid choice for high-spending small businesses with the flexibility to earn 4 points per dollar in the two categories where you spend the most. The card is ideal for businesses who value simplicity above all. Read our full review of the American Express Business Gold Card.
Pros
- You'll earn 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar in the top 2 spending categories each billing cycle (on the first $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).
Cons
- $395 annual fee
- $300 credit annually, only applicable for bookings made through Capital One Travel portal
Additional Details
- Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One’s travel booking site
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you’ll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One’s travel booking site
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
Best for no annual fee
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Intro Offer
Earn 20,000 miles
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Recommended Credit
670-850
Excellent, Good
Rewards Rate
5 MILES
5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
1.25 MILES
1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
Why we chose it
If you’re looking to dip your toes into the world of travel rewards, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a great way to get started. With no annual fee and a simple 1.25 miles per dollar on all your purchases, you won’t have to keep up with multiple bonus categories — just earn rewards on everything you purchase! Coupled with the 20,000-mile sign-up bonus, you can use your rewards to book travel, transfer to Capital One’s loyalty partners and more. Read our full review of the Capital One Venture One Rewards Credit Card.
Pros
- No annual fee.
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 within the first three months from account opening.
- Use your miles to book or pay for travel at a 1-cent value, or transfer your miles to loyalty programs to gain potentially even greater value for your rewards.
Cons
- Other credit cards can offer you higher rewards for your common purchase categories.
- Capital One airline transfer partners do not include any large U.S. airlines.
Additional Details
- Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One’s travel booking site
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you’ll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One’s travel booking site
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
Best for for renters
Bilt Mastercard®
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Rewards Rate
3X POINTS
3x points on dining
2X POINTS
2x points on travel
1X POINTS
1x points on other purchases
2X POINTS
Earn 1x points on rent without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points in a calendar year. When you use the card 5 times each statement period using your Bilt Mastercard, you'll earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases.
Why we chose it
The Bilt Rewards Mastercard is a credit card that allows renters to earn one point per dollar on their rent payments, without incurring transaction fees. In addition, you can earn 3 points per dollar on dining and 2 points per dollar on travel (must make five transactions per statement period to earn points). Bilt Rewards points are transferable points and can be transferred to 14 airline partners and three hotel partners. Despite having no annual fee, the Bilt Rewards card features great travel and dining benefits like Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and World Elite Mastercard Concierge Service. Read more about the Bilt Rewards card here.
Pros
- Earn points on rent with no transaction fees
- Multiple bonus categoriesTransfer points to multiple travel partners
- Variety of travel benefits
Cons
- No welcome bonus
- Must make five purchases per statement period to earn points
Additional Details
- Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One’s travel booking site
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you’ll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One’s travel booking site
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
Welcome bonus
We considered which travel cards would provide the best welcome offers for new cardholders.
Annual fee
The value and benefits of some cards — especially premium ones — can offset the annual fee.
Earning rates
These cards feature solid reward earning rates that you can redeem for travel, including miles and upgrades.
Redemption options
The best travel cards will offer various types of redemption options, including points and miles.
Added benefits
Factors we considered for travel cards also included the bonus perks cardholders get access to when traveling.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What credit score do I need to get approved for a travel credit card?
Most top travel credit cards require a good to excellent credit score, generally 700 or higher. Some of the most premium cards may look for scores above 740. That said, approval also depends on other factors like income, credit history, and recent applications.
💡 Pro tip: Check your credit score for free before applying. That way, you’ll avoid a hard inquiry for a card you might not qualify for.
What's the difference between points and miles?
Honestly? Not much. "Points" and "miles" are just terms different credit card issuers use for their rewards systems.
For example, Capital One cards often earn "miles," while Chase Ultimate Rewards cards earn "points." The value really comes down to how you redeem them, not what they’re called.
Things only get a bit tricky when comparing cash-back cards, where rewards might be shown as dollars or as points. But again, it's just branding, the key is how you use them.
Are travel credit cards worth it?
Absolutely! If you know how to redeem your points strategically, travel credit cards can deliver way more value than simple cash back.
Sure, cash-back cards give you a flat 1–2% return. But with travel cards, you can often turn your points into 2x, 5x, even 10x their face value by booking luxury flights or five-star hotels. That means 100,000 points could be worth $1,000 in cash — or $5,000+ in business class flights if used the right way.
Add in perks like airport lounge access, statement credits, and travel protections, and you’re looking at serious value — often far beyond the annual fee.So if you travel even a couple times a year and are willing to learn the basics of redeeming points, travel credit cards aren’t just worth it — they’re a no-brainer.
When should you use rewards instead of cash?
You’ll typically get the most bang for your buck when you use points and miles for travel-related redemptions, especially long-haul business or first class flights. These premium redemptions can turn 100,000 points into a $5,000+ flight, giving you 5–10x more value than cash back or gift cards.
That said, not all redemptions are created equal. Domestic economy flights often have low cash prices, which means you're usually better off paying with cash and saving your points for high-value trips. The same goes for gift cards or merchandise — those tend to offer poor value and should only be used if you're clearing out leftover points.
Everyone defines “value” a bit differently. Some travelers are happy redeeming 25,000 miles for a $250 flight; others would rather save those miles for a luxury travel experience.
General rule of thumb:
- Use cash for cheap domestic flights or small purchases
- Use points for premium travel experiences (especially long-haul business/first class)
- Avoid low-value redemptions like gift cards or physical merchandise
Use your rewards wisely, and you’ll unlock travel experiences that cash alone couldn’t buy.
Which travel credits are easiest to redeem?
Not all travel credits are created equal. Some are a breeze to use and they apply automatically to everyday purchases. Others require more effort, like booking through specific portals, registering in advance, or dealing with complicated terms and exclusions.
Here are a few of the most user-friendly travel credits:
💳 Chase Sapphire Reserve® – $300 Annual Travel Credit
One of the easiest and most flexible out there. It automatically applies to any travel purchase — flights, hotels, tolls, rideshares, parking, campgrounds, even some public transit. No special portal, no pre-registration — just swipe and the credit applies until you've used the full $300.
💳 Capital One Venture X – $300 Annual Credit for Capital One Travel
Great value, but with one small catch: You must book through Capital One Travel to use it. That means flights, hotels, or rental cars booked directly on their travel portal. Still easy to use if you’re okay with booking inside their ecosystem.
💳 Amex Platinum – $200 Airline Fee Credit
More limited and less user-friendly. You have to pre-select one airline each year, and the credit only applies to incidental charges like seat selection, baggage fees, or in-flight purchases — not actual airfare. If you don’t often pay for these extras, this credit can be hard to use.
💳 Amex Platinum – $200 Hotel Credit (Fine Hotels + Resorts / The Hotel Collection)
Valuable if you stay at luxury properties, but it's only usable on prepaid bookings made through the Amex Travel portal and limited to participating properties. Still a great perk, but requires more planning.What makes a travel credit “easy”?
- No portal or hoops to jump through
- Applies to a wide range of everyday travel purchases
- No need to opt-in or pre-select categories
If simplicity is important to you, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the gold standard. It works quietly in the background and just… works.
STAY UPDATED
Sign up for our daily newsletter
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
