3 Best Travel Credit Cards for Beginners, Plus Alternatives

There are dozens of points and miles credit cards out there, from airline and hotel cards to business and cash-back cards. But not all of them are a good choice for someone new to travel rewards.

If you’re on the hunt for the best travel credit card for beginners, take a look at these three: a no-fee, mid-fee and high-fee card. Then you’ll be ready to start earning award travel fast.

» Learn more: Are travel credit cards worth it?

There aren’t many no-fee travel credit cards out there, but the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is about as good as they come. That, coupled with its ease of use, may make it one of the best entry-level travel credit cards available.

Earning Chase points

Among the benefits that make this zero-fee card worth a look:

• Welcome bonus: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

• During your first year, earn 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase's portal, 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, and 3% on all other purchases on up to $20,000 in spending. After that, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

This card is best for pre-travel spending because you will be charged foreign transaction fees if you use it while traveling overseas. But for earning points at home, this card is a workhorse, especially when used on everyday expenses like groceries.

» Learn more: What to know about Chase travel credit cards

Redeeming Chase points

Using your Chase points is as easy as racking them up. You can redeem them for many reward options including travel, which encompasses airline fees, hotels, cruises, passenger trains and more.

All you need to do is make travel purchases with the card and redeem the cash back earned.

» Learn more: How to get the most from the Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Another solid no-fee option: The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card earns unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, a nice welcome bonus and no foreign transaction fees.

Its current welcome bonus is: 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.

» Learn more: AmEx points vs. Chase points

One of the best beginner travel credit cards out there may be the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It’s a favorite among savvy travelers for a reason. It comes with a $95 annual fee, but for ease of use and flexibility in using your points, this card is tough to beat.

Some of the perks and benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card include:

• Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

• 2x points on all dining and travel purchases.

• A 25% bonus on redemption value when you book travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

• 1:1 transfer rate if you want to convert your points to partner airline miles or hotel points.

• No foreign transaction fees.

Earning Chase points

That makes this card a great choice for an everyday point credit card, but it earns you even more on travel purchases and dining out (or ordering in).

The sign-on bonus is also exceptional for a card with such a low annual fee, though the minimum spend required to earn the bonus points is a little higher than with some other cards.

» Learn more: How to earn a travel card sign-up bonus

Redeeming Chase points

What makes this card worth a second glance as a starter travel credit card is its redemption options. You can either book travel and pay directly with points through Chase's booking portal, or you can transfer your points to any of 13 airline and hotel frequent traveler programs.

» Learn more: How to get the most from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card

Another solid mid-fee option: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Unlimited 2x miles on all purchases, plus 5x miles on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel.

You'll also get a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit (worth up to $120), a healthy welcome bonus and access to 15+ Capital One transfer partners.

Its welcome bonus is: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

» Learn more: How the Capital One travel portal works

Ready to dive into travel rewards with both feet and reap all of the possible benefits of a top-tier card? A good first travel card for those willing to pay a hefty annual fee in exchange for a slew of travel benefits is The Platinum Card® from American Express.

With a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees), it doesn’t come cheap, but it provides some seriously valuable perks:

• Welcome bonus: 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. Terms Apply.

• Earn 5x points on flights (on up to $500,000 of purchases per calendar year) and hotels, plus 1x points on other purchases.

• Get $200 back in statement credits each year for select hotel bookings.

• Get a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

• Get $199 back per year on a Clear annual membership.

• Get up to $15 per month and $35 in December ($15 monthly credit plus a $20 bonus) of Uber Eats or ride credit in the U.S. Enrollment required. Must use card for Uber purchase to use credits.

• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status. Enrollment required.

• Hilton Honors™ Gold Status. Enrollment required.

Terms apply.

If you travel frequently — and like to do so in style — this card may be worth the high annual fee. So if you stay at hotels often (specifically Marriott and Hilton properties), frequently check luggage, aren’t yet approved for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and would definitely use all the statement credits and status boosts, you’ll likely get more out of this card than you pay.

Plus you'll have access to 20+ transfer partners including 19 airlines, so you can turn those AmEx points into airline miles.

» Learn more: Is the Platinum Card® from American Express worth its annual fee?

Other solid high-fee options

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® includes a $300 annual travel credit helps offset the annual fee. Plus, Priority Pass access, 3x points on travel and a 1.5-cents-per-point value for travel booked through the Chase's travel portal.

Its annual fee is $550, and its current sign-up bonus is: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

» Learn more: Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve worth the annual fee?

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card also comes with a $300 annual travel credit, the ability to transfer points to 17 airline and hotel transfer partners and unlimited access to Priority Pass, Capital One lounges, and more than 100 Plaza Premium lounges, including select Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses.

New cardholders can earn a sign-up bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

» Learn more: How to maximize the Venture X

The best entry-level travel credit card depends largely on your travel plans, spending habits and budget, but these are three excellent choices for anyone getting started with travel rewards.

To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.