The best starter travel credit cards for beginners

The world of credit cards can seem overwhelming when you’re just starting. But if you want to move on from your cash-back card (or even a student card), you’re in the right place. The right starter travel card can offer much more rewarding perks.

With so much information and so many options, how do you know which card to choose? Do you want transferable points? Airline miles? Free nights with a hotel chain? There are no right or wrong answers to these questions — it’s all about what’s important to you.

We’ve assembled this list of the best starter credit cards so you don’t end up with rewards that don’t match your goals. 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.

And all of them are worth keeping in your credit card inventory for the long term.

Related: How to pick the right travel credit card for you

Best starter travel rewards cards

The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Card	Welcome offer	Bonus categories
	Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.	5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Travel℠ (excluding the $50 hotel credit) 5 points per dollar spent with Lyft (through Sept. 30, 2027) and on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more (through Dec. 31, 2027, with a limit of 25,000 bonus points) 3 points per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services and online grocery orders (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs) 2 points per dollar spent on travel not booked through Chase Travel 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
	Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.	5 miles per dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals and car rentals booked and paid for through Capital One Travel 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases
	Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.	10 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions when booked through CitiTravel.com 3 points per dollar spent at restaurants (including takeout), supermarkets, gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations, on other hotel purchases and on air travel 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
	Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases in your first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.	5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com or through the Amex Travel App™ 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent) 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent) 3 points per dollar spent on airfare purchased directly from the airline, through amextravel.com or through the Amex Travel App 2 points per dollar spent on car rentals booked through amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App 2 points per dollar spent on cruises booked through amextravel.com 1 point per dollar spent on other eligible purchases
American Express Green Card	Earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.	3 points per dollar spent on travel, transit and dining at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
	Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.	5 points per dollar spent on hotels 4 points per dollar spent on airlines 3 points per dollar spent on dining and other travel 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases
	Earn 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.	Earn 3 points per dollar spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center Earn 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of our favorite travel cards for a reason. If you have a good enough credit score, this card can be a fantastic starter travel card.

Chase Sapphire Preferred_April 2024 Update — THE POINTS GUY

Annual fee: $95.

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Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

According to TPG’s May 2026 valuations, these 75,000 bonus points are worth $1,538.

Why it’s a great starter card: There’s a good reason why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is our top pick for our list of starter cards. In addition to the lucrative welcome offer, cardholders earn 5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Travel and 2 points per dollar spent on all other travel.

The Chase Ultimate Rewards points it earns are easy to use with 11 airline and three hotel loyalty program partners, such as United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt. Your points can also be redeemed for up to 1.75 cents apiece, depending on the specific redemption, when you book travel through Chase Travel (see your rewards program agreement for full details).

The card also has terrific travel benefits, including primary car rental insurance and no foreign transaction fees. You’ll also enjoy $50 in annual statement credits for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel, and each year on your account anniversary, you’ll enjoy a 10% points bonus on your spending from the previous year. Note that Chase has confirmed the 10% anniversary points boost benefit will end at a future date.

When you add in the welcome bonus and an annual fee of only $95, you have a card that offers great value, especially if you’re just starting out in the world of travel rewards.

To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Venture Rewards doesn’t have complicated bonus categories to track, which may make it the perfect fit for your wallet.

Annual fee: $95.

Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

According to TPG’s May 2026 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $1,388.

Why it’s a great starter card: This card’s flexibility makes it ideal for travelers getting started in the points and miles world or those who aren’t inherently loyal to a single hotel chain or airline.

First, you earn a flat 2 miles per dollar spent on everything, meaning you don’t have to keep track of different spending categories. However, that earning rate jumps to 5 miles per dollar spent for hotels, vacation rentals and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel.

You’ll also get an up to $120 credit to cover the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

With this card, you’ll be able to take advantage of Capital One’s 15-plus airline and hotel partners. This card packs a lot in for a $95 annual fee and even makes the cut as one of our overall best credit cards for air travel.

To learn more, read our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

Learn more: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Citi Strata Premier Card

If you want a single card to cover a wide range of bonus categories, the Strata Premier is exactly what you’re looking for.

Annual fee: $95.

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

According to TPG’s May 2026 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $1,140.

Why it’s a great starter card: The beauty of the Citi Strata Premier Card is its breadth of bonus categories. The card earns 3 Citi ThankYou Rewards points per dollar spent on air travel, on hotel purchases booked outside the Citi Travel portal and at restaurants, gas stations, EV charging stations and supermarkets, helping you rack up lots of points in no time.

If you book hotels, attractions and car rentals through cititravel.com, you’ll enjoy a fantastic earning rate of 10 points per dollar spent.

When it comes to spending those points, you can transfer them to any of Citi’s 21 travel partners.

You can also receive $100 off one hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) per year when you book through cititravel.com. The card has no foreign transaction fees and a $95 annual fee.

To learn more, see our full review of the Citi Strata Premier.

Apply here: Citi Strata Premier Card

American Express Gold Card

The Amex Gold is a great choice for anyone who spends a lot of money on food. With this card, you’ll rack up tons of points on many of your food purchases.

Annual fee: $325 (see rates and fees).

Welcome offer: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases in your first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.

According to TPG’s May 2026 valuations, this welcome offer is worth up to $2,000.

Why it’s a great starter card: The Amex Gold Card is fantastic for anyone looking to leverage their everyday spending for excellent rewards while also enjoying useful perks for things like dining and ride-hailing services.

This card’s standout categories are its 4 points per dollar spent rates for dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $50,000 and $25,000 in spending per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent, respectively).

Cardmembers also receive up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year (up to $10 per month) toward dining purchases at select merchants and up to $120 per calendar year ($10 per month) in Uber Cash toward U.S. Uber rides and U.S. Uber Eats orders after enrolling your Amex Gold Card in your Uber account. You can redeem it with any Amex card.

Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Other perks include access to The Hotel Collection*, the Global Assist Hotline^ and several shopping and travel protections on the card.

To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Gold Card.

*A minimum stay of two nights is required; eligible charges vary by property.
^The eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Cardmembers are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

Apply here: American Express Gold Card

American Express Green Card

The Amex Green is often overlooked, but it’s definitely a card young professionals and beginner travelers alike should consider.

Annual fee: $150.

Welcome offer: Earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.

According to TPG’s May 2026 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $800.

Why it’s a great starter card: The Amex Green Card’s broad bonus-earning categories and relatively low annual fee make it great for beginner travelers. With it, you’ll earn 3 points per dollar spent on travel, transit and dining at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.), allowing you to rack up points both at home and while traveling.

The American Express Membership Rewards you’ll earn with this card are extremely versatile, and you’ll be able to book your next trip in no time by transferring your points to one of Amex’s 21 transfer partners, including Delta SkyMiles and Marriott Bonvoy.

You’ll also get travel benefits like an up to $209 Clear+ statement credit each calendar year, plus travel insurance and shopping protections. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Learn more: American Express Green Card

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey may not be the most-discussed travel rewards card out there, but it offers compelling value for those intrigued by Wells Fargo’s transfer partners.

Annual fee: $95.

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

According to TPG’s May 2026 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $1,050.

Why it’s a great starter card: Like many other cards on this list, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey earns bonus rewards on dining and select travel. As a cardholder, you’ll also receive various travel protections, plus a $50 statement credit each year after making an airline purchase of $50 or more.

Your points can be transferred to any of Wells Fargo’s transfer partners, including standouts like Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Iberia Club.

To learn more, check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey.

Learn more: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card

If you want a card that offers simplicity or if you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, we recommend checking out the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card.

Annual fee: No annual fee.

Welcome offer: Earn 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Why it’s a great starter card: For beginners, points and miles can seem daunting, so it’s good to have a card with a simple earning structure. The Bank of America Travel Rewards offers 3 points per dollar spent on travel purchases made in the Bank of America Travel Center and an unlimited 1.5 points per dollar spent on all other purchases.

What’s more, if you are a Bank of America banking customer, you can earn additional points under the Preferred Rewards program. Bank of America Preferred Rewards members earn a points boost between 25% and 75% (depending on your tier) on every purchase.

Just note that you’ll need a three-month average of at least $20,000 across your Bank of America and Merrill accounts to qualify.

The points earned on this card can be redeemed as a statement credit for travel or dining purchases at a flat rate of 1 cent per point. This card doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee.

To learn more, read our full review of the Bank of America Travel Rewards card.

Apply here: Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card

What credit score do you need for a travel credit card?

Most travel credit cards require good-to-excellent credit, meaning you’ll want a score over 650. That’s not to say that you won’t be approved if your score isn’t that high, but it is a good rule of thumb when considering applying for a credit card.

Woman sitting on the floor with a laptop — ROCKAA/GETTY IMAGES

If you don’t currently have a good credit score or lack credit history, you’ll want to build credit with a beginner or secured card or by becoming an authorized user on someone else’s card.

Related: What credit score do you need to be approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?

Don’t forget about Chase’s 5/24 rule

If you’re still torn about which card to get, it’s worth thinking about Chase’s 5/24 rule, as it can influence your decision. According to this rule, Chase will likely reject your application if you’ve opened five or more personal cards across all issuers in the last 24 months (most business cards don’t count toward your total).

Because of this restriction, conventional wisdom is to start by using up your five slots with Chase before moving on to other issuers.

When you’re just starting with travel rewards, it can be easy to underestimate the importance of this rule, but Chase offers some of the most valuable travel rewards cards on the market. If you don’t get them first, you might not be able to get them for a while.

Credit card purchase — NOSYSTEM IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES

Sometimes it makes sense to ignore the 5/24 rule and set off in a different direction, but it’s not a decision you should make lightly. Unless you have a good reason for looking elsewhere, you should start with a Chase card first.

For more on this rule and the rules the banks use for credit card applications, see our guide to credit card application restrictions.

Bottom line

With so many travel rewards cards out there, choosing which one to apply for might seem overwhelming. But you can’t go wrong with any of the choices on this list, as all the options offer great rewards rates and an introduction to the world of points and miles. So, decide what your travel goals are, then use this guide to pick the right card for you.

Related: Are travel credit cards worth it?

For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here.

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