The Best Credit Card For Travel

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Obviously, there are tons of credit cards that all offer amazing benefits for various types of lifestyles. Some cards give a percentage back on all groceries while others are more geared towards retail rewards. My wanderlust called for a credit card that would accumulate points quickly and be cashed in at a high value for travel-related expenses such as flights, vacations or experiences. Through my hours of research, I landed on the Chase Sapphire Reserve as my credit card of choice.

A landscape photo from Iceland.
Visiting places all around the world for free, like Iceland, is possible with the best credit card for travel!

Points for the Best Credit Card for Travel

Accumulating points is how I accomplish most of my travel. With the Sapphire Reserve, you earn 3 points for every dollar spent on travel-related expenses such as flights, vacation packages, taxis and more. You also earn 1 point for every dollar spent on everything else. My tactic is to use my credit card for every purchase I ever make and I simply pay it off when the bill comes in.


As you rake in the points you can log into your Chase account to search for flights or other travel opportunities. When booked through their platform, your points are worth 50% more.  For example, 50,000 points would be worth $750 towards travel. If you apply and are accepted today, spend $4,000 in the first three months to receive a sign-up bonus of 50,000 points.

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Annual Fee for the Best Credit Care for Travel

It’s true that the Chase Sapphire Reserve has a very high annual fee, but if you truly plan to travel multiple times throughout the year then the $450 will actually pay for itself. Each year you’ll receive a $300 travel credit to put towards flights or travel expenses that were charged to your card. The way I like to look at it is that benefit alone lowers the cost of the card down to $150.


Another benefit included is a membership to Priority Pass Select which allows you to gain access to specific lounges all over the world. Most lounges include showers, food, and drinks plus a secluded area away from the hustle and bustle of the main terminal. The annual fee for this perk if bought on its own is $399 for unlimited visits. My home airport is Orlando MCO which has a lounge included in this membership so I’ve already benefited from this perk more times than I can count.


TSA Precheck is another advantage included with the Sapphire Reserve. You can choose between Precheck or Global Entry and have the application fee reimbursed if paid for by your card. Again, I fly out of Orlando, therefore, Precheck has saved me so much time.

Landing strip in Lukla, Nepal.
Lukla, Nepal. My flights for this trip only cost me about $200 from the United States all because of my Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card.

Extra Perks for Using Chase Sapphire Reserve

Other added benefits of this card include no foreign transaction fees which could save you a bundle if using your card overseas. Trip cancellation or interruption insurance will save you from having to purchase it when buying a flight. Trip delay reimbursement of up to $500 per ticket can get you the relief you might need if your flight is delayed more than six hours and requires an overnight stay. You can check out the rest of the benefits like roadside assistance, emergency assistance with medical and dental as well as get all the details of the card by visiting Chase Sapphire Reserve.


If you are looking for a way see the world on a tight budget, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a great credit card where you can earn points and travel in luxury. For a couple of other tactics I use when planning an adventure, check out Traveling On A Budget.  I personally use the Sapphire Reserve credit card as a customer and have found that it benefits my life greatly. Remember to always research and read the fine print before acting on any offer.

A traveler looks out of Antigua, Guatemala.
Always ready to travel the world.
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