Travel credit cards are designed to reward spending with points or miles that can be redeemed for travel-related perks like flights, hotel stays, lounge access, upgrades, and more. These cards typically fall into three major categories:
1. 🏨 Hotel Credit Cards
These are co-branded cards issued in partnership with major hotel chains such as:
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- World of Hyatt Credit Card
Why choose a hotel card?
- Complimentary elite status (e.g., Gold or Silver status)
- Free night certificates annually
- Bonus points on hotel stays
- Fast-track to elite tiers with qualifying spend
Best for:Â Travelers loyal to a specific hotel brand who want to enjoy on-property perks and free nights.
2. 🛫 Airline Credit Cards
Co-branded with major airlines like Delta, United, or American Airlines, these cards reward frequent flyers with miles and in-flight perks.
Examples include:
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- United Explorer Card
- AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
Why choose an airline card?
- Free checked bags and priority boarding
- Companion tickets or discount vouchers
- In-flight savings on food, drinks, or Wi-Fi
- Earn status-qualifying miles or segments
Best for:Â Travelers who fly frequently with one airline or an airline alliance and want to save on fees and earn faster rewards.
3. 🏦 Bank Travel Cards (General Travel Credit Cards)
Issued by banks like Capital One, Chase, and American Express, these cards are not tied to a single airline or hotel brand.
Popular choices include:
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Why choose a bank travel card?
- Flexible rewards that can be transferred to multiple airline and hotel partners
- Broad category spending rewards (e.g., 2x or 5x on travel, dining, groceries)
- Premium perks like lounge access and annual travel credits
- More freedom to book travel your way
Best for: Travelers who value flexibility, want access to multiple transfer partners, and aren’t brand loyal.
Don’t stop here! Be sure to check-out the following two articles where I share more about the two travel credit cards I have presently and why.