The Best Premium Travel Credit Cards

Updated:
Entrance to an American Express Centurion airport lounge

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When it comes to choosing a travel credit card, most people balk at paying an annual fee, especially for the premium cards where the fees are $500 or more per year.

I get that.

However, frequent travelers can easily recoup the cost of the annual fee with these cards, thanks to the host of benefits that premium cards offer.

Most premium cards come with unlimited airport lounge access, free Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, travel insurance, high welcome bonuses, higher points-earning capabilities than lower fee cards, and other perks, such as statement credits for travel, dining, or delivery — all of which help offset the annual cost of the card.

That means that having a premium card in your wallet makes your travel experience easier and more comfortable.

To help you decide what card is best for you and your travel goals, here are my favorite premium travel credit cards:

The Platinum Card® from American Express

My Top Pick: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Annual Fee: $695 (See Rates and Fees.)

UP TO 175,000 Bonus Points

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.

This is one of the best premium cards out there — if you take advantage of its luxury benefits. This card unlocks lounge access, elite status benefits (enrollment required), travel perks, special hotel discounts, and luxury goods and service credits. It’s my favorite premium credit card and, when the statement credits are used correctly, it more than pays for itself.

  • Earn 5x Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on the first $500,000 spent per calendar year)
  • Earn 5x Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com
  • Travel insurance coverage including secondary car rental insurance, trip interruption and cancellation, lost luggage reimbursement
  • Up to $200 in airline credit (on one qualifying airline, must choose airline in advance, on incidentals only, not airfare)
  • 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.)
  • 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.)
  • $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.
  • Up to $50 biannual Saks Fifth Avenue credit
  • Up to $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month (enrollment required, includes Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal)
  • Up to $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.

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Read My Review

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture X

Annual Fee: $395

75,000 Bonus Miles

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

This card earns 2x miles per dollar earned on every purchase, annual travel credits, lots of statement credits, lounge access, and a wide variety of transfer partners. Cardholders can enjoy flexible redemptions on their rewards, too! It’s one of my favorite premium cards out there and the lower fee can make it a better option than the others on this list.

  • 2x miles per dollar on every purchase
  • 10x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One’s travel booking site
  • 5x miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One’s travel booking site
  • Up to $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One’s travel booking site
  • Up to $120 statement credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry
  • Up to $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
  • 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date
  • Ability to transfer to 15+ Capital One transfer partners
  • Free cards for employees
  • Unlimited access to Capital One Lounge locations and membership to Priority Pass through the Partner Lounge Network
  • No foreign transaction fees

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Read My Take

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Annual Fee: $550

60,000 Bonus Points

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

This is an upgraded version of one of the most popular travel credit cards out there and includes a lot of fantastic perks for avid travelers. You get a $300 annual travel credit, lounge access, great travel insurance, and an array of statement credits.

  • 3x points on travel (after the first $300 in travel purchases, which comprise the $300 Annual Travel Credit)
  • 3x points on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services
  • 5x points on flights when booked through Chase Travel SM (after the $300 annual travel credit has been used)
  • 10x points on hotels and rental cars when booked through Chase Travel (after the $300 annual travel credit has been used)
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel
  • 10x points on Lyft + 2-year Lyft Pink membership through March 31st, 2025
  • $300 annual travel credit
  • Priority Pass Membership for lounge access (one-time enrollment required)
  • Up to $120 credit toward Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA Pre-Check (every 4 years)
  • Travel insurance including trip delay coverage, primary car rental insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation insurance
  • Complimentary DashPass membership when you activate by December 31st, 2027

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Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Annual Fee: $650 (See Rates and Fees.)

70,000 Bonus Points

Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Delta is my favorite domestic airline and this is Delta’s top-tier card and a MUST for frequent Delta travelers. It offers access to Delta Sky Club, priority boarding, an annual companion certificate, and an MQD boost. If you’re like me and fly Delta a lot, you absolutely have to have this card as it will make your flying experience 1000x better!

  • 3x miles on eligible purchases made directly with Delta
  • 1x points on all other eligble purchases
  • 15% off when booking award travel on Delta flights
  • Statement credit of up to $100 for Global Entry® (every 4 years) or TSA PreCheck® (every 4.5 years),
  • $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost
  • Eeceive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year.
  • Upgrade priority
  • Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American round-trip flight each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply.
  • Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Annual Fee: $650 (See Rates and Fees.)

Earn up to 150,000 Bonus Points

Earn 100,000 points after you spend $6,000 and an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership

This hotel card is designed for Marriott die hards and offers a ton of valuable benefits. You can get an annual free night award, complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, statement credits, Priority Pass lounges, and a host of other travel perks. If you stay at Marriott a lot, then you have to get this card because it will make all your stays better!

  • 6x points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
  • 3x points on restaurants.
  • 3x on flights booked directly with airlines.
  • 2x points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • Marriott Platinum status.
  • 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month.
  • $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
  • Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
  • Either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider)
  • Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
  • Enroll in Priority Pass Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying.

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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Annual Fee: $0 for the first year, then $150 (See Rates and Fees.) Offer Ends 8/13/2025.

130,000 Bonus Points

Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

The Hilton Honors Surpass card is their premium card for Hilton die hards that comes with complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, statement credits, and a free night reward. If you are loyal to Hilton and stay at them frequently, this card is a no brainer to have.

  • 12 points per dollar spent directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
  • 6 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. restaurants and U.S. gas stations.
  • 4 points per dollar on U.S. online retail purchases.
  • 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases.
  • Up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
  • Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
  • Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
  • Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year.

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The premium travel credit card space has more options than ever. Whether you’re looking for premium lifestyle benefits, just need an easy-to-use card, or want to elevate your airline or hotel experiences, there’s a premium card out there for you. If you’re smart and take advantage of all that these cards have to offer, you can easily come out on top, traveling for free and making your entire experience that much more enjoyable.
 

Stop paying full price for travel!

Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to use points and miles for free travel! It's how all the pros travel so much! In this guide, I'll show you:

  • How to Pick a Credit Card
  • How to Earn Up to 10x Miles on Your Spending
  • How to Redeem Your Points
  • And a Ton of Other Money Saving Tips!
Points and Miles

    Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

    Book Your Flight
    Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

    Book Your Accommodation
    You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

    Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
    Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

    Want to Travel for Free?
    Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

    Need a Rental Car?
    Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip!

    Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?
    Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

    Ready to Book Your Trip?
    Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

    Non-Affiliate disclosure: All information about Chase Cards has been collected independently by Nomadicmatt. Chase Cards are no longer available through Nomadicmatt.