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Best travel credit card with no annual fee
December 12, 2024
Whether you’re a casual vacationer or an experienced globetrotter, you surely appreciate a good deal on travel. And one of the best ways to save money on your next trip is to utilize a travel credit card.
But so many travel cards have massive annual fees. Are there any good fee-free options?
Yes, there are.
This guide will cover the best travel credit cards with no annual fees and go over what you should look for when choosing a card.
The advantages of travel credit cards
Travel rewards credit cards can offer a variety of helpful perks for travelers. They usually earn rewards that help you earn discounted or free travel. Travel credit cards also have extra perks, such as no foreign transaction fees on foreign purchases.
The specifics depend on each card, but some of the most common advantages of travel credit cards include:
- No foreign transaction fee: You won’t get charged extra if you make purchases overseas or online in a foreign currency. Many non-travel cards have foreign transaction fees of around 3%.
- Travel rewards: You can earn rewards whenever you make purchases. These often come in the form of airline miles, hotel points, or flexible points that can be redeemed for a variety of free travel perks.
- Travel perks: This means that you can enjoy perks while you’re traveling, like free checked bags on your favorite airline, priority check-in at hotels, or free rental car damage waivers.
- Sign-up bonuses: You can earn bonus miles or points when you sign up for a credit card and meet specific requirements. For instance, a card might offer 20,000 airline miles after you sign up and spend $1,000 within the first three months.
Premium travel credit cards can offer additional perks, like airport lounge access or exclusive event access. But for this article, we’ll focus on the benefits of travel credit cards with no annual fee.
Many cards also offer general advantages of credit cards, like purchase protections, flexible repayments, and increased purchasing power.
Why do most travel cards have annual fees?
If you’ve been looking for a travel credit card, you’ve probably noticed that they tend to have annual fees. Some have sky-high fees of $300, $400, or even $500+ per year. Why is this?
Well, many travel credit cards cater to the luxury travel crowd. These cards offer generous perks, but they charge a hefty fee to help pay for those perks.
Sometimes, paying the annual fee can be worthwhile — but usually only if you travel frequently. For instance, Capital One’s Venture X card has a $395 annual fee. Still, it comes with a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access, and many more perks for frequent travelers.
If you don’t want to deal with annual fees, don’t worry — there are plenty of no-annual-fee travel credit cards to choose from.
What to look for in a travel credit card
There are many travel credit cards out there — so what should you focus on when choosing the best one for you? Below you’ll find some travel-specific tips — or, for more general advice, you can read through our guide to choosing your next credit card.
Travel perks that you’ll actually use
Look for a card with travel perks that will actually come in handy for your travel plans.
Many cards offer a ton of benefits — but it’s really only worth looking at the perks you’ll use.
A rewards program that’s relevant to your needs (and travel plans)
Ultimately, look for a card that fits your lifestyle, travel plans, and preferences.
For example, if you get an airline credit card, it’s best to choose one from an airline you commonly fly with. There’s little point in getting a United credit card if your home airport is a hub for Delta, for example.
Getting a versatile rewards card is a good idea if you're not sure where to start. These cards earn points that can be redeemed for various free travel opportunities rather than travel on only one airline.
Competitive terms
It’s also wise to look past the travel-specific features and closely examine the credit card’s general details.
What is the APR, and how does it compare to other cards available to you? Is there a low introductory APR offer? What is the annual fee? These are all questions you should consider when choosing your next card.
No foreign transaction fee
If you travel abroad, you’ll want to find a card with no foreign transaction fee. This can save you money on every purchase you make outside the country.
If a card does have a foreign transaction fee, it will usually be around 3%. That can add up — so if you spend $2,000 on your next vacation, using a card without a foreign transaction fee will save you around $60.
A useful sign-up bonus
Many credit cards come with sign-up bonuses after you get the card and use it for a certain amount. An example might be a 20,000-mile bonus when you sign up and spend $1,000 in the first three months.
Sign-up bonuses can boost your rewards balance and get you closer to a free ticket or discounted trip. Just be sure to look for a bonus that 1) is useful for your travel plans and 2) has a minimum spending requirement that is achievable with your spending habits.
What are the best travel credit cards with no annual fee?
We’ve covered what to look for in a no-annual-fee travel credit card. But there are still dozens of solid options to choose from.
If you’re looking for some great options, here are the best travel credit cards with no annual fee:
Capital One VentureOne Rewards card
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card is a simple and flexible travel rewards card with no annual fee. It earns “miles,” which are flexible points redeemable for free travel, gift cards, cash back, and more.
The VentureOne card earns 1.25 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, plus 5x miles on eligible purchases at Capital One Travel (hotels and rental cars). It also comes with a 20,000-mile sign-up bonus after you spend $500 in the first three months of card membership.
Plus, there are other travel perks, like rental insurance and travel insurance.
Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express card
The Delta SkyMiles Blue card is a no-annual-fee airline credit card from Delta and American Express. It’s a good choice for folks who frequently fly Delta Airlines, as it earns 1x Delta miles per $1 spent on all purchases and 2x Delta miles on Delta and dining purchases.
The SkyMiles Blue card comes with a 10,000-mile sign-up bonus. In addition, there are other Delta-specific perks, like 20% savings on in-flight purchases.
United Gateway card
The United Gateway Card is a no-annual-fee travel card from United and Chase. It’s a good choice for frequent United Airlines travelers, as it earns 1x United miles per $1 spent on all purchases, plus 2x miles on United purchases, gas stations, and ride-sharing.
The Gateway card also comes with 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 within the first three months. This is an attractive sign-up bonus for a no-annual-fee credit card. This card also has perks, like trip delay protection and rental car coverage.
Discover it Miles card
The Discover it Miles card is a flexible travel rewards card from Discover. It’s simple: The card earns 1.5 miles per $1 spent on all purchases. Miles can be redeemed for discounted travel, gift cards, cash back statement credits, and more.
The Discover it Miles card has a unique sign-up bonus: All the rewards you earn in the first year are doubled. So, if you earn 20,000 miles in the first year, you’ll get 20,000 bonus miles for a total of 40,000.
Bottom line
You don’t have to pay a hefty annual fee to enjoy good travel perks on your credit card. Some of the best travel credit cards with no annual fee include the Discover it Miles card, the Capital One VentureOne card, and the United Gateway card.
Didn’t quite find what you were looking for? Use the Kudos Explore Cards feature to find the perfect fit for your wallet.
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