Travel merchants: where each card earns
Browse 288 merchants and sub-categories, then see which cards earn the most at each brand.
288 merchantsBy CardRewards.ai EditorialData as of November 13, 2026
Rankings are generated by our algorithm based on earn rates, point valuations, fees, and benefits — not paid placement. We don't accept compensation to rank cards higher. How we rank
Travel covers 288 merchants across 10 sub-categories — from headline brands to specialty retailers. Use the directory below to jump into a sub-category or open a brand page for earn-rate context. Chase Sapphire Reserve is our top-scoring card for travel spend at 7.8¢ per dollar, with a $795 annual fee; we show one highlight here and link to the full category ranking when one exists.
Top 5 cards for Travel
- 1Chase Sapphire ReserveChase8x Ultimate Rewards on Flights booked through the required portal · $795 annual fee
- 2Citi Strata Premier CardCiti10x ThankYou Points on Hotels & Lodging booked through the required portal · $95 annual fee
- 3Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardCapital One10x Capital One Miles on Hotels & Lodging booked through the required portal · $395 annual fee
- 4Chase Sapphire Preferred CardChase5x Ultimate Rewards on Flights booked through the required portal · $95 annual fee
- 5Citi Strata Credit CardCiti5x ThankYou Points on Hotels & Lodging booked through the required portal · no annual fee
Browse by sub-category
Top brands across Travel
Frequently asked
- What credit card has the highest cash back on travel?
- Chase Sapphire Reserve ranks #1 in our scoring for travel at 7.8¢ per dollar — $795 annual fee. The ranking factors in earn rate, welcome offer value, and redemption flexibility, net of the fee.
- Are there no-annual-fee cards good for travel?
- Yes — Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3.9¢ per dollar on travel with no annual fee. It's the highest-ranking no-fee card in our scoring for this category.
- How are these cards ranked?
- Effective value per dollar — earn rate × points value (cents per point), plus amortized welcome offer value and credit offsets, net of the annual fee. Numbers reflect typical redemptions, not best-case outliers.
- What's the most popular sub-category under Travel?
- Hotels — 50 merchants. Drill in for category-specific recommendations.
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