The best travel rewards cards
Honest breakdowns — welcome bonuses, real cost after credits, lounge access, transfer partners, and even cards that turn your rent or mortgage into travel points. Then let Wittie plan the trip they pay for.
Best-in-class trip protections and no FX fees for just $95 — the $50 Chase Travel hotel credit cuts the effective fee to ~$45.
- Welcome bonus: 75,000 pts after $4,000 in 90 days
- Annual fee: $95 · ~$45 after credits
- Transfers to: Flying Blue, United, Air France/KLM, British Airways, World of Hyatt…
- APR: 21.49%–28.49% variable
The value-premium pick: lounges for the whole family + $300 travel credit + anniversary miles make the effective fee ~$95. Best lounge access per dollar.
- Welcome bonus: 75,000 pts after $4,000 in 90 days
- Annual fee: $395 · ~$95 after credits
- Transfers to: Flying Blue, Turkish Airlines, Wyndham, Choice, Air Canada Aeroplan
- APR: 19.99%–29.99% variable
A food-and-earning powerhouse. Monthly Uber/dining/Dunkin' credits can offset most of the fee IF you actually use them — that's the catch.
- Welcome bonus: 60,000 pts after $6,000 in 180 days
- Annual fee: $325 · ~$100 after credits
- Transfers to: Flying Blue, Delta, British Airways, Hilton, Air Canada Aeroplan…
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
The ultimate airport-and-hotel experience: unmatched lounge access, hotel elite status, and stacked credits. Worth it for frequent international flyers who'll use the perks — otherwise the fee bites.
- Welcome bonus: 80,000 pts after $8,000 in 180 days
- Annual fee: $695 · ~$350 after credits
- Transfers to: Flying Blue, Delta, British Airways, Hilton, Air Canada Aeroplan…
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
The easy $300 travel credit (auto-applied to any travel) plus top-tier trip insurance and lounges bring the effective fee to ~$250. Best travel protections of any card here.
- Welcome bonus: 60,000 pts after $4,000 in 90 days
- Annual fee: $550 · ~$250 after credits
- Transfers to: Flying Blue, United, Air France/KLM, British Airways, World of Hyatt…
- APR: 21.49%–28.49% variable
A lot of card for $95: the $100 annual hotel credit alone can wipe out the fee, plus broad 3x categories and no FX fees. No lounge or elite status.
- Welcome bonus: 70,000 pts after $4,000 in 90 days
- Annual fee: $95 · ~$0 after credits
- Transfers to: Flying Blue, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Choice, JetBlue
- APR: 21.24%–29.24% variable
If you stay at Hiltons, this pays for itself: automatic Gold status (upgrades + free breakfast) and $200 in annual Hilton credits offset the $150 fee. Not a transfer card.
- Welcome bonus: 130,000 pts after $3,000 in 180 days
- Annual fee: $150 · ~$0 after credits
- APR: See terms
Turn rent or mortgage — your biggest monthly bill — into transferable travel points, with no annual fee on the base card. Uniquely valuable for renters/homeowners; the transfer list rivals premium cards. Note: earns via Bilt's referral program, not an affiliate network.
- Annual fee: $0
- Transfers to: United, American AAdvantage, Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, British Airways…
- APR: See terms
Advertiser Disclosure: The Wittie Agent may earn a referral fee if you apply for a card through our links and are approved — at no extra cost to you. You can always apply directly with the issuer. We recommend cards based on how well they fit travelers’ needs, not compensation, and we don’t cover every card or offer available. Card terms, rates, fees, and bonuses are set by the issuer, change frequently, and may not be available when you apply — always confirm current terms on the issuer’s site. The Wittie Agent is not a lender and does not guarantee approval.