Disclosure: The Globetrotting Teacher may receive commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the The Globetrotting Teacher are from advertisers & may impact how & where cards appear on the site. The Globetrotting Teacher does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
After getting requests in the Facebook Group, I’ve begun putting together a monthly list of what I think are the best credit card offers available right now.
If you’re brand new to miles and points, make sure you understand Chase’s 5/24 rule and the first cards to get because of it.
You can learn more about the fundamentals in my free miles and points basics course, as well.
As always when applying for credit cards, think of your travel goals. Look not only at the card’s welcome bonus but also the bonus categories. Do they match up with your spending habits?
And, are there other credit card perks that come with the card, like lounge membership or hotel status that make sense for what you’re looking for in a travel rewards credit card?
Finally, know how you’re going to meet the minimum spend to earn the welcome offer. Travel rewards credit cards can add a ton of long-term value to your wallet but, initially, there’s no denying how lucrative a welcome bonus can be, particularly when the offer is increased or notable in some way.
Which Travel Rewards Credit Cards to
Look At Right Now (September 2023)
card_name
Current Welcome Bonus: 75,000 Capital One Miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.Â
Favorite Card Features:Â
- 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every dayÂ
- Get a $300 annual credit for travel bookings made through Capital One Travel
- Get unlimited complimentary access for you and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- Earn 10 Miles per dollar spent for hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel Portal
- Earn 5 Miles per dollar for flights booked through the Capital One Portal
- Receive 10k Capital One Miles each year for your card anniversary
- No foreign exchange fees
- Get up to a $100 Global Entry or TSA Precheck credit
- Enhance each hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with an array of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more!
- Redeem your Capital One Miles with their airline and hotel transfer partners at a 1:1 ratio.
Annual Fee: $395Â
Reasons to Consider It:
The premium Capital One Venture X is a stellar card with a great offer! You can use this card for your everyday spending to earn 2x the Capital One miles for every dollar spent.
And with Capital One adjusting the transfer ratio for their airline and hotel transfer partners to 1:1, the value proposition on the miles you’re earning has significantly increased.
The benefits on this card from the lounge privileges to the annual travel credit all at a lower annual fee than its competitors make this card_name offer extremely compelling. I was happy to be approved for this card when it debuted and it has earned a regular spot in my wallet for non-bonus everyday spending.card_name
Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening. That's $750 when you redeem your points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
Favorite Card Features:Â
- $50 annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit
- 5x on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal
- 3x on dining (including eligible delivery services)
- 3x on select streaming services & online grocery purchases
- 2x on other travel purchases
- 1x on all other purchases
- No foreign exchange fees
- Transfer Ultimate Rewards points to airline and hotel partners like United, Flying Blue, and Hyatt
- 1.25 cents per point or 25% more value if you redeem points for travel in the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal
- Get a 10% Anniversary points boost calculated by how much you spent on the card during the year
- Rely on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
- Complimentary DashPass which comes with no delivery fees and lower service charges on DoorDash orders for a minimum of a year (activate by 12/31/24)
- Member FDIC
Annual Fee: $95
Reasons to Consider it:
This revamped credit card should be one of the first cards anyone new to miles and points considers adding to their wallet. It’s subject to the 5/24 rule and will add to your overall card count. Add other miles and points cards to your wallet first and you risk being made to wait before getting this miles and points-earning staple.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are a flexible currency that can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to airline and hotel transfer partners for high-value redemptions. In addition, when you pay for a car rental with the Sapphire Preferred, you get primary collision damage waiver coverage. This alone has saved me thousands of dollars making the card’s annual fee an absolute no-brainer.
card_name is arguably one of the best travel rewards credit cards out there and a perfect starter travel rewards card with a great offer!card_name
Current Welcome Bonus: 60,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months from your account opening
Favorite Card Features:Â
- 4x on restaurants worldwide
- 4x on U.S. supermarkets up to $25,000 each calendar year, then 1x thereafter
- 3x on flights booked with an airline directly or through Amex Travel
- $120 statement credits ($10 per month) for Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and participating Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 statement credits ($10 per month) in Uber Cash for rides
- No foreign exchange fees (See rates & fees details)
- Transfer Membership Rewards points to airline and hotel partners like Delta, Eithad, and Aeroplan
- Terms Apply
Annual Fee: $250
Reasons to Consider it:
This is a great offer on the American Express Gold Card, especially given the generous 6-month time frame to satisfy the minimum spend requirement. It will add to your 5/24 count.
The card earns flexible Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to a variety of Amex airline and hotel transfer partners. These partners include airlines like Aeroplan, ANA, Delta, British Airways, Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic, and many more.
American Express also offers periodic bonus transfers upwards of 40% for specific airline partners, further increasing the value of points earned with this card. Additionally, American Express cards come with Amex Offers, which allow you to add promotions and deals to your card for extra statement credits and/or bonus points.
card_name is arguably one of the best travel rewards cards available given the fantastic bonus categories on dining and U.S. supermarkets, the high value of Amex Membership Rewards points, and the strong line-up of available airline transfer partners.card_name
Current Welcome Bonus: 80,000 points after spending $8,000 in the first 6 months from your account opening. Plus, choose your favorite metal Card design!
Favorite Card Features:Â
- Get Uber VIP Status + $200 each year in the U.S. for Uber rides or eats with monthly statement credits. Uber Cash & Uber VIP Status is only available to the Basic Card Member.
- 5x on flights booked with an airline directly or through Amex Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year
- 5x on prepaid hotels with Amex Travel
- Get $200 back in statement credits every year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts(R) or The Hotel Collection* bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum. (*For The Hotel Collection, a minimum 2-night stay is required.)
- Get through security in a flash with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, entertainment venues, and stadiums nationwide with up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Card. Learn more.
- Get up to $20 in statement credits every month (up to $240 annually) when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card(R) for one or a combo of the following: Disney+; a Disney Bundle, Peacock, ESPN+, SiriusXM, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- Earn a statement credit of $12.95 for a monthly Walmart+ membership when you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card(R). Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
- Choose one qualifying airline and receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by the airline paid with your Platinum Card(R).
- Earn up to $300 back each year in statement credits on an Equinox+ subscription, or any Equinox club memberships (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card(R). Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.Â
- Lounge privileges with Priority Pass, Centurion, and others around the globe
- No foreign exchange fees (See rates & fees details)
- Transfer Membership Rewards points to airline and hotel partners like Delta, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, and Choice
- Terms Apply
Annual Fee: $695
Reasons to Consider it:
The Platinum card earns Membership Rewards points and has access to the same transfer partners as mentioned above with the Gold card.
With the Platinum Card, though, you get access to the Global Lounge Collection which includes American Express Centurion Lounges. Card benefits like the $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit, $240 Digital Entertainment credit, and $200 in Uber credits help to offset the card’s annual fee. My personal favorite, the annual $189 CLEAR credit, has helped save countless time and aggravation at airport security.
I love using American Express Membership Rewards points to redeem for award flights. I’ve used them to fly to Europe and Asia and especially love when I can combine a redemption with an airline partner transfer bonus. With this solid card_name offer, you can do the same!card_name
Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months as a cardholder.Â
Favorite Card Features:Â
- Earn an Anniversary Free Night at eligible hotels up to 40k points per night + earn a reward night when you redeem IHG points for a consecutive 4-night stay (i.e. 4th night free)
- Earn up to 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels and Resorts
- 5x on restaurants, at gas stations, and on travel
- 3x on all other purchases
- IHG Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental(R), Crowne Plaza(R), Kimpton(R), EVEN(R)Hotels, Indigo(R) Hotels, and Holiday Inn(R)
- Up to a $100 statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS every 4 years
- Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you're a cardholder
- No foreign Exchange Fees
- Member FDIC
Annual Fee: $99Â
Reasons to Consider it:
This is one of the highest welcome offers ever for the IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card. IHG has improved how status is earned, as well as added free night flexibility and earning potential, prompting a fresh look at their loyalty program.
This combined with the free anniversary night every year means this card deserves a spot in your wallet. IHG hotels include brands like Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza, & InterContinental. This IHG Premier card is subject to and will add to your 5/24 count. However, it’s totally worth one of those slots, especially if you’ve got possible IHG stays in your future travel plans.
I stayed recently booked a wedding anniversary getaway for my husband and I at the Carlton Cannes in the French Riviera. We used a combination of free night awards and points to cover the stay. The cash price for this luxury beachfront property??? More than $1,700 a night!
Keep in mind, IHG has moved to a dynamic pricing model. This means award night prices fluctuate based on demand, time of year, etc. However, award nights can still be booked for a reasonable number of points and, with a little flexibility in your plans, you might even lower your overall cost by tens of thousands of IHG points.
If you’re planning a trip with IHG hotels nearby and/or building out your hotel points portfolio, the card_name is worth a good look.card_name
ProTip: If you’re looking for a no-fee way to earn IHG points, take a look at IHG Rewards Traveler Credit Card. It’s also has a fantastic welcome offer! Not to mention, the card comes with some of the same benefits as the IHG Rewards Premier mentioned above.
card_name
Current Welcome Bonus: 75,000 Capital One Miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening
Favorite Card Features:Â
- Get 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
- Get 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked with Capital One Travel
- Enhance each hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with an array of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more!
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for travel purchases on your statement or transfer them to one of the Capital One transfer partners like Flying Blue or Aeroplan.
- Up to a $100 Global Entry or TSA Precheck credit
Annual Fee: $95Â
Reasons to Consider it:
The Capital One Venture card is noteworthy because of its earning potential and its redemption convenience and flexibility. Every dollar spent earns 2x the Capital One miles.
For travel redemptions outside traditional airline and hotel loyalty programs, as well as for deals on cheap flights, Capital One miles return a ton of value. And when you’re looking to redeem for a premium flight, Capital One’s transfer partners will help you pay fewer miles compared to the cent-per-point value of using your miles to offset travel charges on your statement.
Earn 5x the miles on hotel and rental car bookings using Capital One Travel when paying with your Venture or VentureOne card.
Capital One offers arguably one of the best travel rewards credit cards out there and one that many people start with. Just remember, it will take a 5/24 slot.
For those of you who already have a travel rewards portfolio, the card_name card, with its top-notch welcome offer given its reasonable annual fee, adds terrific value.card_name
Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months as a cardholder.
Favorite Card Features:
- 3x the points for every $1 spent on groceries, dining at restaurants, and for purchases made with Air Canada directly. Earn 1x the point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Earn 500 bonus Aeroplan points every month when you spend at least $2,000 monthly on your card - up to 1,500 points per month
- Redeem points for both international and domestic flights with the Aeroplan(R) Credit Card.
- Member FDIC
Annual Fee: $95
Reasons to Consider it:
The Aeroplan Card comes with a fantastic offer to consider. In fact, I like it better than the card’s debut offer because earning miles is more straightforward when it comes to redeeming for award flights. This Aeroplan card is subject to and will add to your 5/24 count.
Aeroplan miles can be used to book Star Alliance and non-alliance partner flights. In fact, this is one of the strengths of the program, the sheer number of partners that can be booked with Aeroplan miles.
Combine this with Aeroplan eliminating all fuel surcharges on award tickets and you now have the ability to take advantage of all partners without negating the value of an award flight booking.
Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express points, and Capital One Miles transfer 1:1 to Aeroplan. So, it’s easy to earn points and miles to top off your Aeroplan account should you need more miles for a redemption.
With the chance to earn Aeroplan Flight Rewards, get the card’s benefits, and enjoy Aeroplan’s generous stopover rules with a wide range of partners, the card_name easily shows its value.Avios Earning Credit Cards
Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months from opening opening your card British Airways Visa Signature® Card, Iberia Visa Signature® Card, or Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card.Â
Favorite Card Features:
- 3x for purchases on British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and LEVELÂ
- 2x on hotel bookings made directly with the hotelÂ
- 1x on all other purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Depending on the Avios card you choose, receive benefits like 10% off on eligible paid flights or priority boarding
- Member FDIC
Annual Fee: $95
Reasons to Consider them:
These are great welcome offers on the card_name, card_name, and card_name whether you’re hoping to fly to Spain or book short-haul domestic American Airlines flights with your Avios.Avios are the currency for British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus loyalty programs. These airlines also participate in popular flexible points programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards. So, it’s easy to add to your Avios balance.
In addition, it’s possible to move Avios between the 3 Avios airlines. This can be hugely beneficial considering all 3 airlines have different award charts and even peak and off-peak pricing dates. What’s more, Qatar Airways now uses the Avios currency, too. So, Avios earned with one of these 3 credit cards can also be moved to your Qatar Airways account.
The important thing to remember with the Avios programs is that their award pricing is based on distance flown. As a result, there are long-haul and short-haul sweet spots, like flying Iberia’s business class to Madrid from the eastern U.S. for just 34k Avios one-way or using British Airways Avios to book flights operated by American or Alaska Airlines from the west coast to Hawaii for just 26k round trip.
Given this, the Avios welcome bonuses on these cards are nearly enough to fly a family of 4 round-trip to Hawaii from the west coast!
It’s well worth looking at how Avios earned with the card_name, card_name ,and card_name can help you target a specific redemption or book a partner airline award for less than what the partner airline might charge.Business Credit Cards
Applying for a business credit card is another great way for business owners to earn miles and points. The great thing about business credit cards, aside from the additional earnings, is they don’t add to your 5/24 count. So if you’re 4/24 and you get approved for a business credit card with Chase or another bank, you’ll still be 4/24 even after getting the card.
Most people wonder, though, if they can even apply for a business credit card. The biggest thing to understand is a business can be a side hustle. It doesn’t need to be your primary source of income. This might include teachers who tutor, anyone who consults or sells a service, selling on eBay, and even someone who bakes and sells trays of cookies from home.
However, the economic climate of 2020 has made business cards harder to be approved for as banks have tightened credit lending.
You can apply for a business credit card as a sole proprietor, using your name as the business name. A social security number is fine to use if you don’t have an EIN.
Business cards are even for new businesses whose earnings just starting, although newer businesses right now may need to answer additional questions or wait until they can show enough revenue.
Use this guide to answer all your questions about how to apply for a business credit card.
Just remember to be honest about your business. If it’s your first time applying for a business credit card, a bank may naturally have some additional questions for you about your application.
card_name
Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months as a cardholder. That's worth $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel(SM)
Favorite Card Features:
- 3x on travel, shipping costs, internet, phone & cable services, and advertising with social media sites and search engines on the first $150k in combined category spending
- No foreign exchange fees
- Transfer Ultimate Rewards points to airline and hotel partners like United, Flying Blue, and Hyatt
1.25 cents per point value (or 25% more value) if you redeem points for travel in the Chase Travel(SM) - Member FDIC
Annual Fee: $95
Reasons to Consider it:
This excellent welcome bonus on the Ink Preferred can return a ton of value on your travel redemptions.
It has the same 1:1 transfer to airline and hotel transfer partners like the Sapphire Preferred. These transfer partners can help you redeem for award travel all over the globe whether you’re dreaming of Rome or an African Safari.
In addition, Ink Preferred comes with solid cell phone protection. Get up to $600 per claim for cell phone theft or damage when you use your card to pay for your phone bill.
The Ink Preferred, like all Chase business credit cards, is subject to 5/24, but it won’t add to your overall count. If you’re a business owner who’s new to miles and points, the card_name should be one of the first credit cards you consider.card_name
Current Welcome Bonus: Earn $750 after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months from opening your account.
Favorite Card Features:
- 5% on office supply stores and internet, phone & cable services on the first $25k in combined category spending
- 2% on gas stations and dining on up to a combined $25k in spending
- Paired with an Ink Preferred or Sapphire, the $750 welcome bonus becomes 75k Ultimate Rewards points that have access to valuable airline and hotel transfer partners like United, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Hyatt.
- Member FDIC
Annual Fee: $0
Reasons to Consider it:
This no-fee business card has a terrific welcome offer! Ink Cash Ultimate Rewards points can be combined with Ultimate Rewards earned with cards like the Ink Business Preferred or a Sapphire card. Pairing an Ink Cash with one of these cards also gives you access to Chase’s airline and hotel transfer partners.
The 5%/5x back on internet, cable, and phone, and office supply expenses up to $25k each year offers the opportunity to earn 125k Ultimate Rewards annually, which puts the card_name at the top of the list of small business cards to add to your wallet!card_name
Current Welcome Bonus: Earn $750 after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months from opening your account.
Favorite Card Features:
- Earn 1.5% on all purchases with no spending cap made for your business
- Paired with an Ink Preferred or Sapphire, the $750 welcome bonus becomes 75k Ultimate Rewards points that have access to valuable airline and hotel transfer partners like United, Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic, and Hyatt.
- Member FDIC
Annual Fee: $0
Reasons to Consider it:
This no-fee business card has the same great offer as the Ink Cash mentioned above! The Ink Unlimited is a great card for everyday purchases earning 1.5%/1.5x for every dollar spent with no annual limit made for your business.
Like with Ink Cash, Ultimate Rewards points can be combined with Ultimate Rewards earned with cards like the Ink Business Preferred or a Sapphire card. An Ink Unlimited with one of these cards also gives you access to Chase’s airline and hotel transfer partners.
The card_name is a great addition for small business owners looking to target all categories of their spending in order to earn Ultimate Rewards points. And with both the Ink Cash and the Ink Unlimited being no-fee cards, you can’t go wrong adding either of these card to your wallet.card_name
Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 Hyatt points after spending $5,000 on your card within the first 3 months of opening your card. Plus, earn 15k additional Hyatt points after spending $12k within the first 6 months as a cardholder.
Favorite Card Features:Â
- $100 in Hyatt credits on Hyatt purchases each year you renew your card ($50 2x a year)
- 9x on Hyatt purchases
- 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent on purchases in your top 3 spending categories each quarter through 12/31/24. Then, 2x on your top 2 spending categories thereafter.
- 2 Bonus Points on gym memberships
- 1 Bonus Point on all other purchases
- Hyatt Discoverist status + 5 qualifying night credits every year
- Earn up to $100 in Hyatt statement credits. When you spend $50+ at any Hyatt property, you'll earn a $50 statement credit, up to 2x each anniversary year.
- No foreign Exchange Fees
- Member FDIC
Annual Fee: $199
Reasons to Consider it:
This business card is a solid addition to the World of Hyatt credit card portfolio. Hyatt points are among the most valuable points, particularly in the world of hotel loyalty programs.
World of Hyatt has consistently grown its footprint, particularly acquiring upscale boutique brands that combine for a ton of value with Hyatt-branded properties.
Hyatt’s award pricing includes off-peak, standard, and peak rates. Even with this, award nights are reasonably priced and typically return 2+ cents of value on a per-point basis.
In addition, Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer to Hyatt and can be used to top up your Hyatt point balance for award nights. If you’re a Hyatt loyalist or have Hyatt stays in your upcoming travel plans, consider this solid offer on the card_name.card_name
Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 80,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards Points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months from opening your account.
Favorite Card Features:
- 4x pts on Southwest purchases
- 3x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner bookings
- 2x points on Rideshares
- 2x points on internet, cable, and cell phone costs, as well as advertising purchases for social media and search engines
- Card perks include 4 upgraded boarding positions every year, when available for your travel dates
- Get 9k Rapid Rewards points each year you renew your card
- Member FDIC
Annual Fee: $199
Reasons to Consider it:
This is Southwest’s premium business card. It comes with Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check credits which can be super useful when flying from any of Southwest’s international locations.
Speaking of which, Southwest has routes to Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean, which can be some of the best uses of Southwest points. Southwest award flights also come with a no-fee change or cancellation policy. If your plans change, simply change dates or have your points refunded.
You can book Southwest award flights for as little as a few thousand points and there are no blackout dates or award seat caps. If there’s an available seat on the flight you want, the points you earn with your card_name can help you book it.Bottom Line
Which travel rewards credit card is right for you depends on your travel plans and whether you’re just starting out with miles and points or not. Applying for new credit cards helps you earn valuable miles, points, and perks that’ll up your travel game.
Just remember, to pace yourself according to which credit card offers make sense for your travel goals. And, always pay off that bill in full at the end of the month to avoid high-interest fees that’ll negate the value of the miles and points you’re earning.
So, which travel rewards credit card offers do you think are the best right now?
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