The Best Credit Cards For Family Travel

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We love traveling with our kids, it is an incredible adventure, but it also comes with unique financial considerations. If you are a regular traveler, it is vital that you use a credit card known for its standout service for travel expenses. A travel credit card is a valuable option that can be used to book and pay for trips to help offset large amounts of money and save you from serious headaches.

As a seasoned travel enthusiast, who has saved over thousands of dollars by leveraging the credit cards points and miles, I have learned that strategically choosing the right credit cards can make a world of difference in making family travel more accessible and affordable. Using points and miles, we’ve enjoyed amazing trips to Hawaii, Mexico, Costa Rica and many more places within the states. Here is my essential guide to provide you with everything you need to know about the best travel credit cards, their standout rewards and their restrictions.

Before we dive in to what cards are the best, these are few things to keep in mind when applying for a credit card:

Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is an incredible travel credit card that delivers exceptional value with many rewards and bonuses. We have had it for few years now and though it has very high annual fee but if you travel regularly and use all the benefits on offer, you will more than make up the fee in bonus rewards every year.

Benefits

• 75,000 points once you spend $4000 in the first 3 months. This can be redeemed on Chase Travel for $1125 or even more if transferred to travel partners
• $300 Automatically credit back to your card to reimburse travel purchases on your card every year which brings down the annual fee to $250
• Earn points with every purchase: 10x points on car rentals and hotels, 5x points on flights, 3x points on all other travel and dining and 1 point for every $1 spent on every other purchase.
• 50% more value on Chase Travel when redeeming points.
• Enroll in Priority Pass to receive access to 1300+ airport lounges.
• Trip cancellation, lost luggage insurance and much more.
• 1:1 transfer of points to hotel and airline partners.

Pros	Cons
Lots of rewards	High annual fee
Flexible $300 annual travel credit	High APR on purchases
50% more value

PRO TIP: Both parents sign up for the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card. After the first year, one parent downgrade to a free Chase Freedom Unlimited card and get added as an authorized user on the Sapphire Reserve account. This way, you’ll earn two sign-up bonuses that can be shared, both parents can enjoy TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, and everyone can still use airport lounges whenever they travel. And, your annual fee will be just $625 after the first year.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

If you don’t travel often to justify the high annual fee or you are just dipping your toes into the points and miles game, Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great beginner travel credit card one of the most popular options that delivers the most exceptional value. There is an annual fee of $95 but this credit card provides customers with lots of rewards and bonuses that make it a standout choice amongst other cards.

Benefits

• 75,000 bonus points once you spend $4000 within the first 3 months of opening your account. These points can then be redeemed on Chase Travel and turned into $900.
• Trip cancellation protection, interruption insurance, lost luggage insurance, Car rental collision damage waiver and many more perks.
• Benefits of 5x on Chase Travel purchases, 3x on dining, online groceries and certain streaming services, 2x on all travel payments, 1x on other purchases and $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit.
• 25% more value when you redeem your points on Chase Travel to purchase hotels, plane tickets, car rentals and cruises.
• Complimentary access to DashPass for $0 delivery fees for a year.

Pros	Cons
Bonus points	Annual fee
Lots of rewards	No intro APR offer
Travel protection and insurance

Chase Freedom Unlimited

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a popular travel credit card that has no annual fee and provides customers with a generous welcome and various rewards.

Benefits

• Unlimited 1.5% cash back on everything.
• Welcome offer – earn $200 bonus after spending $500 in your first 3 months after opening.
• 6.5% cash back on travel purchased with Chase Travel, 4.5% cash back on dining, takeout and delivery and drugstore purchases, and 3% cash back on all other purchases.
• After the first year, 5% cash back on travel purchased with Chase Travel, 3% cash back on dining and unlimited 1.5% for all other purchases.
• No minimum cash back to redeem so long as your account stays open.
• 0% intro APR for 15 months.

Pros	Cons
Flexible cash back	Transaction fees in foreign countries
No annual fee	Requires a companion card to transfer points
High welcome offer

Amex Platinum

The American Express Platinum travel credit card offers impressive rewards and it is most suitable for those who travel frequently and in luxury. However the high annual fee can be hard to justify if you don’t travel too often.

Benefits

• Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8000 within 6 months of opening the account.
• Earn 5x Membership Rewards Points on hotels booked with Amex Travel and 5x on flights with Amex Express Travel up to $500,000.
• $200 Hotel Credit every year on Fine Hotels and resorts and the Hotel Collection bookings with Amex Travel.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit on select streaming services.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit.
• $200 Uber Cash.
• $300 Equinox Credit.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit.
• $100 Global Entry Credit.
• $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit.

Pros	Cons
Luxury travel options	Very high annual fee
Potential for high rewards	Low rewards for non-travel purchases
Lots of credit bonuses

Amex Blue Cash Preferred

The Amex Blue Cash credit card offers plenty of rewards for groceries, gas stations and streaming services with a $0 intro fee for the first year and then a small $95 annual fee along with select travel bonuses.

Benefits

• Earn $250 credit once you spend $3000 within the first 6 months.
• 6% cash back at U.S supermarkets up to $6000 a year and select streaming services.
• 3% cash back at U.S gas stations and on public transport (taxis/ buses/ trains).
• 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• Secondary car rental loss and damage insurance and a global assist hotline.

Pros	Cons
Low annual fee	Not suitable for use as solely a travel card
Various travel benefits and insurance
Cash back rewards for a range of purchases

Capital One Venture X

The Capital One Venture X travel credit cards is another popular option which provides an array of perks and extras for regular travelers that can easily cover the annual fee of $395, actually its just $95, since you get back $300 in annual credit. We just recently added this to our wallet and we have been loving the lounge access perks. Unlike the Chase Reserve, every cardholder gets to bring two guests but it’s free to add authorized users to your card and they get lounge access with guests too! You’ll also all get access to tons of Plaza Premium lounges around the world and the new set of Capital One lounges popping up.

Benefits

• Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4000 in the first 3 months which can be redeemed for $750.
• $300 annual credit for use on Capital One Travel bookings which provide the best prices for many trips.
• 10,000 bonus miles every anniversary year.
• Earn 10x miles on rental cars and hotels and 5x miles on flights all booked using Capital One Travel and 2x miles on other purchases.
• Complimentary access to 1300+ airport lounges.
• Enhance hotel stays with room upgrades and more.
• Cover travel expenses with your Venture X miles.

Pros	Cons
Low annual fee that can be made up	Requires excellent credit
Bonus miles and rewards
Anniversary bonus

Capital One Venture X Business

The Capital One Venture X Business travel credit card is ideal for business owners as there are many rewards that each employee can achieve with an annual fee of $395. It is important to know this is a charge card meaning the outstanding balance must be fully paid every month or your account will be considered past due. This card is suitable for you if you have a consistent cash flow.

Benefits

• Earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on purchases.
• Earn 5 miles for every dollar spent on flights and 10 miles on hotels and rental cars.
• Annual $300 on Capital One Travel bookings.
• 10,000 bonus miles for each anniversary year.

Pros	Cons
Unlimited purchases for mile rewards	High annual fee
Standout travel benefits	Charge card
Anniversary miles

Chase Ink Business

Another business credit card the Chase Ink Business is ideal for business owners as it provides a range of impressive rewards when used to pay for expenses. This card helps business to earn cash back fast and there is no annual fee required.

Benefits

• Earn $350 once you spend £3000 in the first 3 months and an extra £400 once you spend $6000 in the first 6 months.
• 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent at office supply stores and phone and internet services, 2% cash back on dining and gas stations and 1% cash back for all other purchases each year.
• 10% Business Relationship Bonus If you also have a Chase Business Checking account on your first card anniversary.
• Zero liability for unauthorized charges.
• Gift cards, travel rewards and more with Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Pros	Cons
No annual fee	Low rewards outside of business options
Various cash back rewards	Select spending caps
$750 welcome bonus

The ideal travel credit card varies based on your specific requirements. Whether you’re a business traveler, a solo adventurer, or someone who doesn’t travel often, there’s bound to be a perfect travel credit card for you, offering various rewards and bonuses. Explore the other travel articles for additional insights into affordable family travel. Filled with useful tips, they’ll equip you to journey more while spending less!