7 Top Travel Credit Cards for Beginners

Credit cards can feel intimidating when you're just starting out. If you're ready to upgrade from your cash-back or student card, you're in the right place. A well-chosen travel card can unlock far more valuable benefits.

With so many choices and details to sift through, how do you pick the right card? Are you after transferable points, airline miles, or complimentary hotel nights?

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the options at the start. The best way to narrow down your choices is to first define your travel goals.

There are no wrong answers here—it's all about your personal preferences. As you gain more experience with points and miles, your choices may evolve. Once you've got a clearer idea, you can match your preferences with the ideal card.

We've curated this list of the best beginner-friendly credit cards to ensure you get rewards that align with your goals. We also focused on simplicity—none of these cards have complex programs or steep annual fees, yet they all offer significant potential value.

Each of these cards is worth holding onto in your collection for the long haul.

Top Starter Travel Rewards Cards

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees)
• American Express® Gold Card
• American Express® Green Card
• Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees)
• Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card

*The details for the American Express Green Card were independently gathered by Dinogo. The information on this page has not been reviewed or endorsed by the card issuer.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of our top recommended travel cards for a reason. With a strong credit score, this card is an excellent choice for those starting their travel rewards journey.

Annual fee: $95

Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus a $300 statement credit on Chase Travel℠ purchases within your first year.

Why it's an ideal starter card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a top choice for a reason. Beyond the generous sign-up bonus, cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Chase Travel, along with the following perks:

• 5 points per dollar on Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025)
• 3 points per dollar on dining (including takeout and delivery), select streaming services, and online grocery orders (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs)
• 2 points per dollar on travel
• 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

The Ultimate Rewards points you earn are simple to redeem, with 11 airline and 3 hotel partners, such as United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt. You can also use your points at a rate of 1.25 cents per point for flights or hotel bookings via Chase Travel.

This card offers excellent travel benefits, including primary car rental insurance and no foreign transaction fees. Additionally, you'll receive $50 in annual statement credits for hotel bookings through Chase Travel, and every year on your account anniversary, you'll earn a 10% points bonus on your spending from the previous year.

With a $95 annual fee and a generous welcome bonus, this card delivers excellent value—especially if you're just beginning your journey into travel rewards.

For more details, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Venture Rewards has no complex bonus categories to track, making it an ideal choice for those who prefer simplicity.

Annual fee: $95 (see rates and fees)

Sign-up bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Why it's an ideal starter card: Perfect for newcomers to points and miles, or those who prefer not to commit to a single hotel chain or airline, this card offers unmatched flexibility.

You earn a flat 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, so you don't have to worry about tracking spending categories. Plus, the earning rate increases to 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel.

You'll also receive a credit of up to $120 to cover the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

Use your rewards to book the cheapest flights available while still enjoying benefits with over 15 airline and hotel partners. For a $95 annual fee, this card offers excellent value and is even one of our top picks for the best travel credit cards overall.

For more details, check out our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

Citi Strata Premier Card

If you're looking for a single card that covers a broad range of bonus categories, the Strata Premier is the perfect fit.

Annual fee: $95

Sign-up bonus: Earn 70,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on new purchases in the first 3 months. A higher offer may be available on Citi.com.

Why it's an ideal starter card: The Citi Strata Premier Card stands out for its wide range of bonus categories. You earn 3 ThankYou points per dollar on air travel, hotel stays, dining, gas, EV charging, and supermarkets, making it easy to accumulate points quickly.

When you're ready to redeem your points, you can transfer them to any of Citi's 18 travel partners.

You'll also enjoy $100 off a hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) each year when booking through CitiTravel.com. The card has no foreign transaction fees and an annual fee of $95.

For more information, check out our full review of the Citi Strata Premier.

Discover more: Citi Strata Premier Card

American Express Gold Card

The Amex Gold is ideal for those who spend heavily on dining. With this card, you'll earn a lot of points on most of your food-related purchases.

Annual fee: $325 (see rates and fees)

Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first 6 months. Be sure to check the CardMatch tool to see if you qualify for an even higher bonus (offers may change at any time).

Why it's an ideal starter card: The Amex Gold Card is perfect for those who want to earn great rewards from their everyday spending, with added statement credits for dining and ride-hailing services.

You can earn 4 points per dollar at restaurants (on up to $50,000 annually, then 1 point per dollar) and at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1 point per dollar). You'll also get 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2 points per dollar on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases via amextravel.com, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

Cardmembers enjoy up to $120 in annual statement credits ($10 per month) for dining at select merchants and up to $120 annually ($10 per month) in Uber Cash for U.S. Uber rides and Uber Eats orders, after enrolling your Gold Card in your Uber account. Enrollment required for some benefits; terms apply.

Additional benefits include access to The Hotel Collection, the Global Assist Hotline, and various shopping and travel protections on the card.

To discover more, check out our full review of the Amex Gold Card.

American Express Green Card

The Amex Green may not always grab the spotlight, but it's certainly a card worth considering.

Annual fee: $150

Sign-up bonus: Earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 6 months of account opening.

Why it's an ideal starter card: The Amex Green Card's wide range of bonus categories and modest annual fee make it perfect for beginner travelers. With this card, you'll earn 3 points per dollar on travel, transit, and dining at restaurants, helping you accumulate points both at home and abroad.

The Membership Rewards you earn with this card are incredibly flexible, allowing you to quickly book your next adventure by transferring points to any of Amex's 21 airline and three hotel partners, including Delta Air Lines SkyMiles and Marriott Bonvoy.

You'll also enjoy travel perks such as a yearly up to $199 Clear Plus credit, travel insurance, and shopping protections.

Discover more: American Express Green

Bilt Mastercard

If you pay rent, the Bilt Mastercard is an essential card to have.

Annual fee: No annual fee (see rates and fees)

Sign-up bonus: None

Why it's a great starter card: For many newcomers to the points and miles world, paying rent is a regular expense. If you pay by bank transfer, cash, or check, your landlord won’t charge any fees. Paying rent with a credit card typically comes with extra charges, but the Bilt Mastercard doesn't have that issue.

The Bilt card even works for landlords who don’t directly accept credit cards, allowing you to earn Bilt Points without incurring transaction fees. You can accumulate up to 100,000 points annually on rent payments.

However, to qualify for rewards, you'll need to make at least five purchases per month. You’ll earn 1 point per dollar on rent and everyday purchases, 2 points per dollar on travel, and 3 points per dollar on dining (see rewards and benefits).

The card also offers various benefits, including Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection*, Trip Delay Reimbursement*, and No Foreign Transaction Fees* (see rates and fees). Plus, you get World Elite Mastercard perks like Cellular Telephone Protection* and monthly Lyft Credits* when you use your card for three or more Lyft rides.

The points earned with this card are transferable to 12 airline and four hotel partners.

To discover more, check out our full review of the Bilt Mastercard.

Note from the editor: Brian Kelly, the founder of TPG, serves as a Bilt adviser and investor.

Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card

If you prefer a straightforward card or are a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, the Bank of America Travel Rewards card is worth considering.

Annual fee: No annual fee

Welcome offer: Earn 25,000 bonus points after making $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

Why it's a great starter card: For those new to points and miles, simplicity is key. This card offers an easy 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases, with no need to track categories, and best of all, there’s no annual fee.

Additionally, if you're a Bank of America customer, you can boost your earnings through the Preferred Rewards program, where you can earn a bonus of 25% to 75% more points per purchase, based on your tier.

Keep in mind, to qualify for Preferred Rewards, you need an average balance of at least $20,000 across your Bank of America and Merrill accounts over the past three months.

Points from this card can be redeemed as a statement credit for travel or dining expenses at a rate of 1 cent per point, and there are no foreign transaction fees.

To learn more, check out our complete review of the Bank of America Travel Rewards card.

How to pick the best starter travel card for you

Choosing the right travel card isn't a one-size-fits-all decision. With so many great choices, it can be tricky to decide which card(s) will help you start building your credit card portfolio. Make sure to select one that aligns with your spending habits, travel aspirations, and budget.

Start by reviewing the categories where you spend the most each month.

For example, if you live in a big city where dining out and grocery shopping (with the Amex Gold in the U.S.) make up the bulk of your monthly expenses, cards like the Citi Strata Premier or Amex Gold may be great options, as they offer excellent rewards in these categories.

These reward cards can be a fantastic way to earn benefits on your spending and help you achieve your travel objectives.

Lastly, think about your budget. For example, if you don't believe the Amex Gold will deliver more than $325 in value for you each year, the Strata Premier's lower $95 annual fee might be a great middle ground between your travel goals and your budget.

Ultimately, it comes down to choosing cards that will provide the most value each year, whether through rewards, perks, or a combination of both.

What credit score is needed for a travel rewards card?

Most travel credit cards require good to excellent credit, meaning you should aim for a score above 650. A score over 700 is optimal. While it's not impossible to be approved with a lower score, having a score above 700 is a helpful guideline when applying for a credit card.

It may be easier to get approved for cards like the ones on this list than for premium options such as The Platinum Card® from American Express or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. However, you'll still need to have solid credit and a good score to increase your chances of approval.

If your credit score isn't great or you don't have much credit history, consider starting with a beginner or secured card, or by being added as an authorized user on someone else's card. If your credit score is low, it's a good idea to work on improving your score before applying for a travel rewards credit card.

Don't forget about the 5/24 rule from Chase

If you're undecided on which card to choose, it's important to consider Chase's 5/24 rule, which could impact your decision. This rule means Chase may deny your application if you've opened five or more personal cards with any issuer in the past 24 months (most business cards don't count).

Because of this rule, many recommend maxing out your five slots with Chase before moving on to other issuers. When you're just getting started with travel rewards, it's easy to overlook this, but Chase has some of the most valuable travel rewards cards available. If you miss out on them initially, it may be a while before you're able to apply again.

There are times when it might make sense to bypass the 5/24 rule and choose a different path, but this is a decision that shouldn't be made lightly. Unless you have a compelling reason, it's generally best to start with a Chase card first. And when it comes to great options, it's hard to beat the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

For more information on the 5/24 rule and the guidelines banks follow for credit card applications, check out our comprehensive guide to credit card application restrictions.

Key takeaway

With so many travel rewards cards to choose from, selecting the right one can feel overwhelming. However, you can’t go wrong with any of the cards listed here, as they all provide excellent rewards rates and offer a great introduction to the world of points and miles. Identify your travel goals, then use this guide to find the best card for you.

Explore the Bilt Mastercard rewards and benefits here.