New card details and information are regularly updated in this post.
When you first start using credit cards, it can seem overwhelming. If you want to leave your cash-back card, you are in the right place. A starter travel card can offer a lot more than just travel.
How do you decide which card to use? Is it possible that you want to transfer points? How many airline miles do you have? There are free nights at a hotel.
It is possible to hold you back at the beginning. Setting travel goals is the first thing to do when choosing a credit card.
There is no right or wrong answer to these questions. As you get experience in the world of points and miles, you might change your mind. You can match your answers to the right card once you decide.
We have put together a list of the best starter credit cards so you don't end up with rewards that aren't in line with your goals. The list was compiled with simplicity in mind. None of these cards are tied to complicated, difficult to understand programs, nor do they have intimidating annual fees, though they all have the potential for outsize value.
You should keep all of them in your credit card inventory.
There is a beginners guide to credit cards.
The key features of the best starter travel rewards cards are listed here.
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| Card | Welcome offer | Bonus categories |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on the card within the first three months of account opening. |
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| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
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| Citi Premier Card | Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on new purchases within the first three months of account opening. |
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| American Express Gold Card | Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within six months of account opening — though you may see higher, targeted offers in the CardMatch tool (subject to change at any time). |
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| Bilt Mastercard | None. |
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| Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card | Earn 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. |
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Here is a deeper look at each card.
The Points Guy did not collect the information for the Mastercard. The card issuer did not review or provide the card details on this page.
The fee is every year.
If you spend $4,000 in the first three months of your account opening, you'll earn 60,000 bonus points.
It is our top pick for a starter card because it is a great one. Cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase travel portal as well as the lucrative welcome offer.
The Ultimate rewards points can be used with 11 airlines and three hotel loyalty programs. You can redeem your points for flights on any airline or hotel through the UltimateRewards portal.
The 1st rewards card in your wallet should still be the sapphire preferred.
Primary insurance when renting a car is one of the benefits of the card. Each year on your account anniversary, you will receive a 10% points bonus on your spending from the previous year, as well as $50 in annual statement credits for hotel stays booked through Ultimate rewards.
You can get a card with a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points and an annual fee of only $95 if you start in the world of travel rewards.
Read our full review to learn more.
There is an official application link for a Chase card.
The fee is every year.
You can earn 75,000 bonus miles if you spend $4,000 in the first three months.
Travelers getting started in the points and miles world or those who aren't loyal to a single hotel chain or airline can take full advantage of this card's flexibility.
You don't have to keep track of different spending categories because you earn 2 miles per dollar on everything. Capital One Travel charges 5 miles per dollar for hotels and car rentals.
You can get two passes a year to the Capital One Lounge and pay a special rate after that, but you won't get airline specific perks. The perk was extended to the Plaza Premium lounges. You get an up-to-$100 credit to cover the application fee for Global Entry, as well as automatic Five Star status withhertz.
There are many reasons to get the Capital One Venture rewards card.
You can use your rewards to jump on the cheapest cash ticket to wherever you are going while still taking advantage of 14 airline partners in all three major airline alliances. One of the best travel credit cards is this one, it has a 95 annual fee and is one of the best travel credit cards in the world.
The full review of the Capital One Venture rewards card can be found here.
Capital One Venture rewards credit card has 75,000 bonus miles
The fee is every year.
If you spend $4,000 on new purchases within the first three months of your account opening, you'll get a 80,000 bonus ThankYou points.
The Citi premier card is a great starter card, it has a wide range of bonus categories. The card gives you 3 ThankYou points for every dollar spent on air travel, hotels, restaurants, gas stations and supermarkets. You can transfer those points to any of the 14 airlines and two hotel partners that are part of Citigroup.
Which mid tier travel card is better?
You can get $100 off one hotel stay of $500 or more per year if you book through thankyou.com. There are no transaction fees on the card.
Read our full review of the card.
The Citi premier card has an 80,000 point bonus.
The annual fee is $250.
You can earn 60,000 bonus points if you spend $4,000 within six months of opening an account. Check the CardMatch tool to see if you are targeted for an even higher bonus.
The Amex Gold Card is great for anyone looking to leverage their everyday spending for excellent rewards, while also enjoying useful statement credits for things like dining and ride-sharing. You can earn 4 points per dollar at restaurants, 3 points per dollar on flights, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
Cardholders can get up to $120 in annual statement credits for dining and up to another $120 per year for U.S. cash in the form of Uber Cash. The out-of-pocket cost of the card has been added together. For certain benefits, you must enroll.
Other perks include access to The Hotel Collection and the Global Assist Hotline.
You can be targeted for a higher offer through the CardMatch tool or referral offers. The offers are not always the same.
The full review of the Amex Gold Card can be found here.
The American Express gold card has a 60,000 point welcome offer.
There is an annual fee.
The welcome offer was none.
It is a great starter card because many beginners pay rent. Your landlord shouldn't charge you a fee if you pay by bank deposit, cash or check. Paying your rent with the Bilt Mastercard doesn't involve any fees. The Bilt card can be used with landlords who do not accept credit card payments.
You need to make at least five transactions on your card each month in order to earn rewards, which are 1 point per dollar on rent, 2 points per dollar on travel, and 3 points per dollar on dining.
The card has a number of perks, including trip cancellation and interruption reimbursement, trip delay protection, car rental insurance and no foreign transaction fees. You can use your card to pay for three or more rides with $5 in credits every month.
You have a complete guide to the program.
This card can be used to transfer points to airlines and hotels. There is only one permanent transfer partner for American Airlines AAdvantage.
The full review of the Bilt Mastercard can be found here.
There is a Bilt advisor and investor named Brian Kelly.
The Points Guy did not collect the information for the Mastercard. The card issuer did not review or provide the card details on this page.
There is an annual fee.
You can earn 25,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 on purchases within 90 days.
For beginners, points and miles can seem daunting, so it's good to have a card that offers an unlimited 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases.
If you are a Bank of America banking customer, you can earn additional points under the preferred rewards program, where you can earn a bonus between 25% and 75% on every purchase. You need a three-month average of $20,000 across your Bank of America and Merrill accounts to be eligible.
Bank of America has the best credit cards in the world.
The points on this card can be used for travel or dining purchases at a flat rate of 1 cent per point. A foreign transaction fee is not charged by the card. It's a great card for "erasing" travel purchases you had to pay cash for, such as tours or taxes on award flights.
Read our full review of the Bank of America travel rewards card.
The Bank of America Travel rewards credit card has a 25,000 point welcome offer.
There is no one size fits all travel card. It can be difficult to decide which card to use to build your credit card portfolio. Pick a card that fits your spending habits and travel goals.
Take an inventory of what you spend the most money on.
If you live in a large city, groceries and dining make up most of your spending. If that's the case, consider cards that offer rewards in those categories. Pick your options based on your travel goals.
Do you have a budget? If you don't think you'll get more than $250 in value from the Amex Gold every year, the Premier's lower $95 annual fee is a nice compromise.
It is important to consider which cards will give you the most value over time through earned rewards, perks or a mix of both.
There is no such thing as the 'best' credit card.
Good-to-excellent credit is the minimum requirement for most travel credit cards. It is a good rule of thumb to apply for a credit card if you have a score of 700 or higher.
It might be easier to get approved for one of the cards on this list than it is for a luxury card. To have the best chance of being approved, you need to have good credit and a good score.
If you don't have a good credit score or have no credit history, you'll want to use a beginner card, a secured card or become an authorized user on another person's card. Before you apply for a travel rewards credit card, you should take the necessary steps to improve your credit score.
What credit score do I need to get a Chase card?
Chase has a rule that can potentially affect your decision if you are still torn about which card to get. If you have opened five or more personal cards in the last 24 months, Chase is likely to reject your application.
Conventional wisdom says to use up your five slots with Chase first and then move on to other issuers. Chase has some of the most valuable travel rewards cards on the market and it can be easy to underestimate the importance of this rule. You may not be able to get them later if you don't get them first.
Sometimes it makes sense to ignore the 5/24 rule and set off in a different direction, but it is not a good idea. You should start with a Chase card if you have a good reason to look elsewhere. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best choices.
What to do after you reach a certain point?
Credit card application restrictions can be found in our guide to credit card application restrictions.
It can be hard to choose which travel rewards card to use. All of the options on the list offer great rewards and an introduction to the world of points and miles. Use the guide to pick the right card if you don't know what you want to do.
You need to meet the minimum spending threshold on the card. If you just graduated from college and are about to move to a new city to start your first job, you may want to apply for one of the cards above now. As you plan your next trip, you will have a lot of points and miles to use.
Additional reporting was done by Emily Thompson.
Click here for the Amex Gold Card rates.
The Points Guy credit ranges are derived from a different type of credit score. If you apply for a credit card, the lender might use a different credit score.
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