The 5 best credit cards for travel rewards

If you travel often - or would like to do more of it this year - there's one easy way to cut costs and earn more miles: Get a new credit card.

There are many cards specifically geared toward travelers, but it can be hard to find the best one. Fortunately, CreditCards.com has compiled the top credit cards for travel rewards.

If you plan on globetrotting this year, here are five cards you should consider:

1. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is an all-around great card with an excellent travel rewards program. For starters, you get 20% off if you book travel through their Ultimate Rewards portal. Additionally, the sign-up bonus of 40,000 points after spending $4,000 within three months of opening an account is worth up to $500 in travel expenses, and you receive a 5,000-point bonus when you add another authorized user.

That's not all. On top of having no foreign-transaction fees, the card has EMV chip capabilities for more security and accessibility worldwide.

What you should know:

• 15.99% APR (variable).
• $95 annual fee, but it's waived the first year.
• You need excellent credit.
• Earn 2X points on travel and dining and one point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

2. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

This Visa Signature card is easily a contender for best all-around travel card. It offers a generous one-time bonus of 40,000 miles, two miles on the dollar for every purchase, premium Visa Signature benefits, no foreign-transaction fees, an EMV chip, and no expiration dates or caps on the rewards you can earn.

Best of all, you can redeem miles on travel purchases you've already made, so you're not limited to rewards that only apply to a particular program's authorized vendors. You have the freedom to redeem your travel rewards however (and wherever) you like.

What you should know:

• 13.9% to 20.9% APR (variable).
• $59 annual fee, but it's waived the first year.
• You need good or excellent credit.
• There's a one-time bonus of 40,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months. Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.

3. British Airways Visa Signature Card

Offering a sign-up bonus of 50,000 Avios when you spend $2,000 in purchases within the first three months, the British Airways Visa Signature card is a smart choice with simple, straightforward ways to earn rewards that may be redeemed across the oneworld alliance (including American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, LAN, and more).

The card has no foreign-transaction fees and earns 2.5 Avios per dollar on British Airways purchases and 1.25 Avios per dollar on all other purchases.

What you should know:

• 15.99% APR (variable).
• $95 annual fee, but it's waived the first year.
• You need excellent credit.

4. Discover It Miles

With its unlimited 1.5X miles on every dollar you spend on purchases, the Discover It Miles is a fantastic rewards card. As an added bonus, any rewards you earn during your first calendar year will be doubled on your account anniversary. You're effectively earning 3X miles on every purchase every day during your first year.

It's also great if you're taking a flight: This card offers up to $30 a year in credits for in-flight Wi-Fi purchases. This is a truly unique feature for a card without an annual fee.

There's also a 12-month introductory APR period for purchases - plus no foreign-transaction fees, annual fees, or penalty APR. And rewards never expire.

What you should know:

• 10.99% to 22.99% APR (variable).
• No annual fee.
• You need excellent credit.

5. BankAmericard Travel Rewards Credit Card

CreditCards.com

The BankAmericard Travel Rewards credit card currently offers 1.5 points for every dollar spent on purchases and travel. Anyone with an active Bank of America checking or savings account can receive an additional bonus.

There's also an exclusive sign-up offer of 10,000 bonus points when you spend at least $500 in the first 90 days (good for up to $100 toward travel). There's EMV chip technology, no foreign-transaction fee, and no caps or expiration on rewards. It's good for redeeming points for any travel purchase and not restricted to a defined set of travel partners.

What you should know:

• 14.99% to 22.99% APR (variable).
• No annual fee.
• You need excellent credit.
• Get an online-exclusive 10,000 bonus points if you spend $500 during the first 90 days. Earn 1.5 points per dollar on every purchase, every time.

Find out which credit card is right for you.

This post is based on an article originally published on CreditCards.com.

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