Travel experienced a big downturn in 2020, but it’s picking up again. A 2021 CNBC article said the average American household spends $2,244 per year traveling. To maximize cash back rewards without annual fees, this list has the best general options. Keep in mind that airline-specific or hotel-specific credit cards may have more benefits. Cards with annual fees can be good too. It depends on your region, spending habits, and preferences. This list applies broadly to “any” travel expense; we’re trying to cover all the bases at once.
If you come across a credit card which should be on this list, feel free to let us know so we can make updates.
Options are a little limited in this category. It’s also best to have a Visa card when possible, since that’s accepted in far more places than American Express or Mastercard. Having multiple cards from different networks is helpful (to have backup options). Though most of the good travel cards have annual fees (and a few don’t cover certain travel categories like parking or tolls). No-fee cards rarely touch the travel category in any serious way, partly because premium cards are usually superior.
Without further ado, let’s explore the options.
1. Penfed Pathfinder Rewards
By most metrics, this is objectively the best no-fee travel card. If you qualify for PenFed Access America Checking, you earn unlimited 4x points (minimum 3.4% cash back) with Pathfinder Rewards. It covers all travel categories, has reimbursement for Global Entry (or TSA PreCheck), includes basic-tier Priority Pass, and has a $100 annual airline credit. Pathfinder Rewards is an easy $200+ in annual value, and the only no-fee credit card to have Priority Pass. It also has travel perks like trip delay reimbursement and lost luggage insurance.
As a Visa Signature, it has wide acceptance with a few extra benefits. PenFed is now public, and anyone can join the credit union. It’s no longer restricted to military members, government employees, or their families. The only downside is that the Pathfinder doesn’t specifically include “parking” in its travel categories, so we’re not sure if that’s covered (it could be under “miscellaneous”).
Wells Fargo Propel is the closest competitor with 3x points on dining, gas, rideshares, transit, flights, hotels, homestays, car rentals, and streaming services. But the Propel is currently unavailable for new sign-ups. Or, for transit only, there’s Navy Federal Credit Union More Rewards. It earns an unlimited 3% cash back for groceries, gas, dining, and transit.
3.4% back on $2,244 of spending is $76.30 in cash back. If you can manage to get $0.01 for each Penfed point (1 cpp), you instead get $89.76 from a 4% cash back rate.
2. FNBO Getaway
This card earns an unlimited 3% cash back on travel, dining, and gas. This is almost identical to the old Wells Fargo Propel, except FNBO doesn’t have a streaming category and it’s a World Mastercard instead of American Express. FNBO’s “travel” category is generous. Eligible transactions include: ferries, taxis, limos, buses, cruise ships, airlines, travel agencies, tolls, hotels, car rentals, amusement parks, aquariums, and more. They don’t specifically mention parking expenses, but those are likely eligible.
FNBO Getaway doesn’t have the best cash back rates for dining or gas, but it can be convenient to have multiple categories on one card. This is the one advantage that it could have over Penfed Pathfinder Rewards.
The downside is that FNBO doesn’t have a sign-up bonus or any travel benefits. No trip delay protections, lost luggage reimbursement, travel accident insurance, etc. It’s a high earner for a no-fee card, and that’s about it. Unfortunately, most non-premium cards share this “no travel benefits” aspect.
3% back on $2,244 of spending is $67.32 in annual cash back.
3. Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards
This earns 3% cash back in the category of your choice. If you choose travel, you should be covered on everything, up to $2,500 per quarter. “Travel includes your everyday travel purchases, like parking, public transit, taxis/ride share, as well as the special getaways you plan all year like that trip to visit family or to explore a new destination. From traditional travel such as airfare to hotels to tourist attractions, campgrounds and boat rentals, watch the cash back add up.” Some people try to circumvent the quarterly spending limit by opening multiple cards (YMMV).
Other than the spending limits, the downside of the Customized Cash Rewards is its foreign transaction fees. The card is best for domestic travel like the Citi Custom Cash below.
If you have Platinum Honors status (or higher) with Bank of America, then you get 5.25% cash back instead of 3%. For unlimited rewards at this tier, you can consider the Unlimited Cash Rewards or Travel Rewards or Premium Rewards card, for up to 2.62% cash back on everything. Bank of America is a fair choice even if you’re not eligible for Preferred Rewards, but being in the program unlocks a lot of potential.
3% back on $2,244 of spending is $67.32 in cash back, while 5.25% back equals $117.81.
4. Citi Custom Cash
The Custom Cash (CCCC) earns 5% cash back on travel, but like the Venmo card below, splits travel into two separate categories. So you can use CCCC for airlines/hotels OR transit, but not both. You can earn 5.5% back by pairing CCCC with a Citi Rewards+ card.
This would be higher on the list if it wasn’t for the $500 monthly spending limit. This is often fine for ground transportation, but low for airlines and hotels. It’s possible to exceed the $500 limit in a single transaction, especially for families. The CCCC also has a foreign transaction fee. This cuts your cash back overseas from 5-5.5% to 2-2.5%. For domestic travel though, like riding subways in major cities, Custom Cash is decent. You can also get airline tickets from American-based airlines without incurring foreign transaction fees.
5% back on $2,244 of spending is $112.20 in cash back.
5. Venmo
This card earns unlimited 3% cash back on your top spending category (automatically calculated). Like the CCCC, it splits “travel” into two categories. Category one is airlines, hotels, resorts, timeshares, etc. Airbnb may or may not count. In category two, Venmo says “Ground transportation such as rental cars, taxicabs, ride share merchants, limousines, bus lines and passenger railways. This category also includes tolls, parking meters and parking garage fees.“
You can use the Venmo card for airlines/hotels OR transit, but not both categories in the same billing period. Some people might want to pair the Venmo and Citi cards together. The Venmo card is decent for overseas transit use, since it doesn’t have foreign transaction fees.
Overall, there isn’t any reason to use the Venmo card for traveling. It’s better to get the Penfed or FNBO cards above.
Honorable mentions (without fees)
- Nusenda – 5% back (Oct/Nov/Dec 2016-2021) – Airlines and Hotels only
- Chase Freedom cards earn 5% back when booking travel through Chase’s website
- Any no-fee hotel/airline card (YMMV) like Marriott Bonvoy or United Airlines
- UMB Travel Select – 3% cash back on flights, hotels, car rentals (this card doesn’t cover ground transportation like trains or buses)
- U.S. Bank Cash+ – 5% cash back on “ground transportation” (bus fare, train tickets, taxis, rideshare services, etc.)
- Huntington Voice – you can choose to earn 3% cash back on “travel and entertainment” ($2,000 quarterly spending limit)
- AOD Federal Credit Union – 3% cash back on everything, possibly limited to Alabama only (YMMV)
- Coinbase Debit can potentially earn up to 4% cash back on everything, but it’s a debit card without any travel benefits, and capital gains taxes may apply
Honorable mentions (with fees or hurdles)
- Chase Sapphire Reserve – earns up to 4.5% cash back on travel (or more, with transfer partners or using the Chase Travel Portal)
- U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve – earns up to 4.5% cash back on travel
- Capital One Venture X – earns at least 2% cash back on everything (potentially more, with transfer partners or using the Capital One Travel Portal))
- Citi Premier – earns 3% on travel, among other things
- American Express Platinum – earns 5% on airfare and hotels
- American Express Blue Cash Preferred – 3% back on transit, among other things
- M1 Finance Owner’s Rewards – 5% back for American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest
- PCMCU Platinum Rewards Mastercard – 5% cash back on everything ($1000 monthly spending limit), waivable annual fee, limited to Wisconsin (Marinette or Green Bay only)
- UNFCU Elite Visa – 3% on dining and limited Priority Pass Select (5 free annual lounge visits)
- Any annual-fee hotel/airline card (YMMV) like Hyatt or American Airlines
Also note that you can purchase discounted gift cards to airlines or hotels. This can sometimes have a greater ROI than cash back credit cards.