6 of the best credit cards for travel purchases — beyond flights and hotels

When you can't use points or miles to cover a trip, earning rewards on your travel spending is the next best thing. Whether you're booking a rental car, cruise or tour, the right credit card can help you rack up points or miles, earn statement credits and unlock valuable travel perks.

Most "best travel credit card" lists focus heavily on flights and hotels — and for good reason, as those purchases typically make up the bulk of travel spending. But what about everything else? Rides to and from the airport, train tickets, city transit, cruises and third-party bookings can add up, and they deserve their own spotlight.

Here are the best credit cards for travel purchases (beyond flights and hotels).

The best credit cards for travel spending

The best card for your travel spending depends on whether you value transferable rewards, flat-rate earnings or elevated bonus categories.

Best no-annual-fee card for travel spending: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card (see rates and fees)
Best overall travel card: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees)
Best for maximizing bonus categories: Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees)
Best for broad travel and transit spending: American Express® Green Card
Best for international everyday spending: Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card
Best for everyday travel spending: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Wells Fargo Autograph Card

Annual fee: $0

Why we like it: The Wells Fargo Autograph is one of the strongest no-annual-fee cards for travelers, thanks to its broad bonus categories and flexible rewards structure. It's especially appealing for travelers who want to earn elevated rewards on a variety of everyday and travel purchases without paying an annual fee.

This card earns:

3 points per dollar spent on dining (includes takeout, catering and food delivery services)
3 points per dollar spent on travel (airfare, hotels, car rentals, cruises and more)
3 points per dollar spent at gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations
3 points per dollar spent on transit, eligible streaming services and phone plans
1 point per dollar spent on other purchases

The Autograph card's broad travel and transit categories make it a great option for purchases that often fall outside traditional travel rewards categories, such as ride-hailing services, parking, tolls and public transportation.

Cardholders can also redeem Wells Fargo Rewards points for travel, cash rewards, gift cards and more. Plus, Wells Fargo has transfer partners as part of its rewards ecosystem, giving travelers additional flexibility when redeeming points for future trips.

To learn more, read our full review of the Wells Fargo Autograph Card.

Apply here: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Annual fee: $95

Why we like it: With a modest $95 annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is an attractive option for travelers looking to earn valuable rewards on a variety of travel and everyday purchases.

This card earns:

5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Travel℠
3 points per dollar spent on dining
3 points per dollar spent on select streaming services
3 points per dollar spent on online groceries (excluding Target®, Walmart® and wholesale clubs)
2 points per dollar spent on other travel purchases

Teenage girl, mother and grandmother are sightseeing beautiful town of Valldemossa, Majorca, Spain — IMGORTHAND/GETTY IMAGES

With this card, you'll earn up to 1.75 cents per point when booking through Chase Travel (see your rewards program agreement for full details). Still, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are extremely valuable when transferred to partners such as Air Canada Aeroplan and World of Hyatt.

The card also offers a $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through Chase Travel, helping cardholders recoup more than half of the card's annual fee each year.

Finally, the Sapphire Preferred also provides primary car insurance when you're renting vehicles, which is a fantastic benefit if you don't want to rely on your auto insurance to cover you and drive up your premiums if an accident happens, as well as other travel protections such as trip delay insurance and trip cancellation insurance.

To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Citi Strata Premier Card

Annual fee: $95

Why we like it: With a modest $95 annual fee, the Citi Strata Premier is a strong option for travelers who want elevated rewards across a variety of everyday spending categories and travel purchases.

This card earns:

10 ThankYou points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
3 points per dollar spent on air travel
3 points per dollar spent at restaurants
3 points per dollar spent at supermarkets
3 points per dollar spent at gas stations and EV charging stations
1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

Woman in an airport — D3SIGN/GETTY IMAGES

Beyond traditional airfare and hotel purchases, the card's bonus categories also make it useful for everyday travel-related spending, including road trips, dining while traveling and transportation expenses.

Once you've earned Citi ThankYou Rewards points with this card, you can transfer points to Citi's travel partners, including Avianca LifeMiles, for additional value and flexibility when booking future trips.

For more information, read our full review of the Citi Strata Premier Card.

Apply here: Citi Strata Premier Card

American Express Green Card

Annual fee: $150

Why we like it: The Amex Green is a strong mid-tier option for travelers thanks to its broad travel and transit bonus categories.

This card earns:

3 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.)
3 points per dollar spent on travel and transit
1 point per dollar spent on other purchases

This card's travel bonus category includes a wide range of purchases, such as transit and short-term vacation rental website purchases, in addition to traditional airfare and hotel spending.

The card also offers an annual Clear+ membership credit of up to $209 (after you sign up and pay for a Clear+ membership, subject to auto-renewal) and does not charge foreign transaction fees. Enrollment is required.

To learn more, read our full review of the American Express Green Card.

Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite credit card

Annual fee: $395

Why we like it: The Atmos Rewards Summit card stands out for its stellar rewards on foreign purchases, which is a rare benefit among premium travel cards.

This card earns:

3 points per dollar spent on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases
3 points per dollar spent on eligible dining purchases
3 points per dollar spent on foreign transactions
1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

An Alaska Airlines plane at Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS) in 2021. GEORGE ROSE/GETTY IMAGES

That earning rate of 3 points per dollar spent on foreign transactions is where this card truly shines. Most cards exclude international spending from bonus categories, but the Atmos Rewards Summit card rewards travelers for their everyday purchases abroad.

If you frequently dine, shop or book travel overseas, this card delivers outstanding value and simplicity — all without foreign transaction fees.

To learn more, read our full review of the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite.

Apply here: Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite credit card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Annual fee: $395

Why we like it: The Capital One Venture X is a great option for travelers who want to earn strong rewards on everyday travel purchases without worrying about bonus categories.

This card earns:

10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5 miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases

Capital One Las Vegas Lounge — CAPITAL ONE

The flat-rate earning structure makes the Venture X especially useful for miscellaneous travel expenses that may not qualify for bonus rewards with other cards, such as ride-hailing services, cruises, train tickets, parking and tolls.

The card also comes with several premium travel perks, including a $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel, 10,000 bonus miles each account anniversary and complimentary access to Capital One lounges and participating Priority Pass lounges.

Additionally, Capital One miles can be transferred to more than 15 airline and hotel partners, giving travelers flexibility when redeeming rewards for future trips.

To learn more, read our full review of the Capital One Venture X.

Learn more: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Bottom line

Not every trip expense fits neatly into the "flights and hotels" box — and that's where these cards shine. From train rides and cruises to meals abroad and rides back to your hotel, the right travel credit card can help you earn valuable rewards on every step of your journey.

So, when you can't pay for your next adventure with points or miles, make sure you're earning them with the right card in your wallet.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

6 of the best credit cards for travel purchases — beyond flights and hotels