Don't Pay Full Price for Travel in 2025 -- These Cards Can Cover Most of It
Motley Fool
05-10
Image source: Unsplash/The Motley Fool
KEY POINTS
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a huge welcome offer we estimate to be worth up to $1,250 in Chase Travel℠ value.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is packed with luxury perks perfect for globetrotters.
The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card earns 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans -- all with a $0 annual fee.
I almost never pay full price for travel.
Not because I'm a tightwad (well, maybe just a smidge), but because I always keep an eye out for the best travel rewards and deals. And right now, there are some awesome credit card offers that can make your 2025 summer travel way cheaper.
Welcome offers alone -- like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) bonus, estimated to be worthup to $1,250 in Chase Travel℠ value when redeemed through the Chase portal -- can slash a huge chunk off your trip costs.
Earning bonus points on stuff you already buy can shave real dollars off your next vacation, too.
Here are three of my favorite travel cards right now.
Chase Sapphire Preferred: My No. 1 favorite
Ratings Methodology
2025 Award Winner
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website.
Rates & Fees
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Credit Score: Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website.
Rates & Fees
Limited-Time Offer Ends May 15
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, which we estimate is worth $1,250 in Chase Travel℠ value. Don't wait — this offer ends at 9 AM EST on 5/15/2025.
Credit Score Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 28.24% Variable
Rewards Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
100,000 bonus points
This card easily justifies the (very reasonable) annual fee with benefits that deliver real value. For a limited time, earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months, which we estimate is worth $1,250 in Chase Travel℠ value. Plus, enjoy bonus travel and dining rewards, a $50 annual hotel credit, and 25% more value when booking through Chase Travel. With added travel protections like rental car insurance and trip reimbursement, we think this card is a game-changer for any traveler.
Read Full Review
Big sign-up bonus
Travel rewards
Dining rewards
Flexible travel points
Consumer and travel protections
Annual fee
Limited-time perks
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
Member FDIC
If I could only recommend one travel card to a friend, it would be the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
The welcome offer alone could buy you two round-trip tickets to Hawaii, Mexico, or anywhere your flip-flops want to go.
A few reasons I love this card:
5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ (2X on all other travel)
3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries
25% more value when you redeem points for travel through Chase Travel℠
$50 annual hotel credit when you book a stay through Chase Travel℠
When you stack all of these benefits, it's easy to see how the card more than justifies its $95 annual fee.
Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card here (see rates and fees) and start earning rewards toward your next trip.
Amex Platinum Card: Your VIP ticket
Ratings Methodology
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Rates & Fees
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Credit Score: Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Rates & Fees
Credit Score Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points
Annual Fee
$695
Welcome Offer Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
This luxury travel card has some of the most prestigious perks you'll find — access to over 1,400 airport lounges, elite status with Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment required), and spending credits worth over $1,500 in value every year. Just be ready for the hefty annual fee, which can be offset in the first year with a welcome bonus worth $800 in points. Terms apply.
Read Full Review
Big welcome offer
Substantial spending credits
Airport lounge access
Hotel benefits
Flexible travel points
Annual fee
Limited bonus categories
Spending credits can be complicated to manage
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
With American Express Global Lounge Collection® eligible Card Members can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
$200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
$199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Use the dedicated CLEAR Lane to confirm your identity without taking out your passport or ID – this can mean shorter lines, less waiting. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card®.
Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
$695 annual fee.¤
Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Terms Apply.
Carrying around an Amex Platinum Card is kind of like holding a backstage pass to every place you visit. It's one of the more feature-packed travel cards out there today.
Full disclosure: It comes with a hefty $695 annual fee (see rates and fees).
But if you travel a ton -- or have a huge trip planned -- the reward value can easily offset the card's cost. In fact, the welcome offer offsets the annual fee right away for those that qualify.
There are literally too many perks to cover here. But here are some highlights:
Airport lounge access: Access to Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass™ lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), and more.
Travel credits: $200 hotel credit, $200 airline fee credit, $199 CLEAR® Plus credit, and $200 in Uber Cash ($15 per month, $35 in December)
Points: Earn 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, and 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
Other credits: $240 digital entertainment credit, Walmart+ credit up to $12.95 each month, and $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit
Terms apply; enrollment may be required
My favorite perk when I traveled a lot for work was the Centurion Lounge access. Resting up in a lounge before a flight changes the vibe of your entire trip.
If you've got a big trip planned or a busy travel year ahead, you'll really love all the rewards that come with the Amex Platinum Card.
Ready to travel like a rockstar? Apply for The Platinum Card® from American Express today (see rates and fees).
Wells Fargo Autograph® Card: A simple, no-fee option
Ratings Methodology
2025 Award Winner
Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
Apply Now for Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.
Rates & Fees
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Credit Score: Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Apply Now for Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.
Rates & Fees
Credit Score Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening
Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
Rewards Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases.
1X-3X points
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
20,000 bonus points
This card offers unlimited 3X points on common things like restaurants, gas stations, travel, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases. This could be a great pick if you spend a lot in those categories. A solid welcome bonus and cell phone protection are the cherries on top.
Strong welcome bonus for a no annual fee card
Earn Unlimited 3x points on useful categories
Cellphone protection
Other cards offer larger bonuses, though they usually come with annual fees
The 1x points baseline rewards rate on other purchases, though normal for this type of card, can be beat
Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
$0 annual fee.
0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable APR thereafter.
Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
If you want a no-fuss way to earn points and an easier sign-up bonus to snag, the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card (see rates and fees) is a solid choice.
It has a wide range of categories for earning bonus points, and there's no annual fee to worry about.
I love this card for everyday spending. You rack up points quickly without needing to memorize rotating categories or weird rules.
Here's what you get:
3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans
1X points on other purchases
Welcome offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees, so it's great if you're heading overseas.
Apply for the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card here (see rates and fees) and start earning 3X points on your daily purchases.
Quick comparison: Which card is right for you?
Card
Best for
Annual fee
Welcome offer
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Huge welcome offer
$95
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Luxury perks and big trips
$695
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
No annual fee
$0
Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
Data source: Issuer websites.
Never pay full price for travel
With the right card, your everyday spending can earn you rewards toward flights, hotel stays, and upgrades.
And make sure to jump on those big welcome offers when you can. A huge chunk of your trip could be covered just for getting approved and meeting the minimum spend within the given timeframe.