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Erika's Picks for Best Travel Sign-Up Bonuses
- Best overall travel rewards card for beginners:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card - Best flat-rate rewards card for simple travel redemptions:
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card - Best no-fee travel rewards card:
Chase Freedom Unlimited® - Best ultra-premium travel rewards card:
The Platinum Card® from American Express - Best hotel rewards card for free stays:
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card - Best airline-specific card for flight perks:
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Travel credit cards have some of the most enticing sign-up bonuses in the industry.
Even though most of them have an annual fee of at least $95, they come loaded with bonuses worth nearly 10x that in travel credit — a number that could make your dream vacation much more affordable.
Best Overall Tavel Rewards Card for Beginners
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Rewards Rate
- 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries
- 2x on all other travel purchases
- 1x on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee
$95
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card currently has a wildly generous sign-up bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's worth $1,000 in free travel!
The card also has a solid list of transfer partners, points that are redeemable for cash or travel, and incredibly robust travel insurance, making it an easy pick for beginners seeking their first premium travel rewards card.
Here are just some of the perks that make the Sapphire Preferred our overall top pick:
- $50 annual hotel credit
- 25% value multiplier on any points redeemed through Chase Travel℠
- 14 transfer partners, including Air Canada, IHG, and Southwest
- Trip cancellation/interruption and trip delay insurance
- Lost luggage and baggage delay coverage
- Auto rental coverage
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card remains a top pick among travelers for its great benefits and general versatility.
The Chase Ultimate Rewards® points you earn are worth a penny each in cashback or 1.25 cents in travel (far more than rival currencies), and the card generates unlimited cashback on travel, dining, and more, so you’re always earning while on the go.
Factor in a highly generous sign-up bonus and an incredibly robust suite of travel insurance (including trip cancellation/interruption, trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, auto rental coverage, and more), and you have a bona fide Swiss Army knife for the modern traveler.
Best Flat-Rate Rewards Card for Simple Travel Redemptions
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Rewards Rate
- 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Annual Fee
$395
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card may have a steep annual fee, but it pays for itself quickly with an offer of 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's equal to $750 in travel!
Plus, you get a $300 annual travel credit and up to 10x Miles on travel. It's also the cheapest card on the market that offers unlimited airport lounge access.
Here are some of its many attractive features, especially for frequent flyers:
- 10,000-Mile anniversary bonus
- $300 annual travel credit
- $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit
- Unlimited complimentary access to Priority Pass and Capital One Lounges
While the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card may have an intimidating sticker price (especially if this is your first rewards card with an annual fee), it quickly justifies itself with unlimited airport lounge access, a steep sign-up bonus, and $400+ in annual travel credits.
However, with transfer partners that are mostly international airlines — and Miles that are only worth 0.5 cents each — the Venture X Rewards isn’t quite as versatile as the rivaling Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. But if you’re a globetrotter who values lounge access, it’s definitely worth considering.
Best No-Fee Travel Rewards Card
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Rewards Rate
- 5% cashback on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3% cashback on drugstore purchases, restaurants, takeout, and eligible delivery services
- 1.5% on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Limited Time Intro Offer: Earn a $250 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee
$0
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a limited time offer of a $250 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
It also offers elevated rewards for dining, drugstores, and Chase Travel℠, and free travel insurance — all of which makes it an underrated choice for travelers seeking solid benefits with no annual fee.
Here are a few more features that make it stand out from the pack:
- Rental car insurance
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
- 6 months of complimentary DoorDash DashPass
Though most folks know it as “the first card I got out of college,” the Chase Freedom Unlimited® actually makes for a solid no-fee travel rewards card thanks to its sign-up bonus, elevated cashback on dining and Chase Travel℠, and generous suite of free travel insurance — a rarity among no-fee rewards cards.
Sure, there’s still a 3% foreign transaction fee, so it’s not quite ideal for international travel, but the included rental car insurance and $1,500 in trip cancellation/interruption insurance make it ideal if you frequently travel within the U.S. and would prefer to avoid annual fees.
Best Ultra-Premium Travel Rewards Card
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Rewards Rate
- 5X on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. 1x thereafter
- 5x on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com
- 1x on all other spending
Welcome Offer
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in the first 6 months
Annual Fee
$695 (rates and fees)
[The legendary The Platinum Card® from American Express may charge an eye-watering annual fee, but it also comes packed with an 80,000-point welcome offer that's worth $800+ in travel.
You can also access over $1,500 in hotel/airline/Uber credits, automatic hotel and rental car status, unlimited airport lounge access, and more.
Here’s just a taste of the card’s lengthy offerings:
- $200 hotel credit (in statement credits) each year on select prepaid hotel bookings
- $240 digital entertainment credit for Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and more (up to $20 in statement credits each month; enrollment required)
- $155 Walmart+ credit (up to a $12.95 statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership)
- $200 airline credit (in statement credits) per calendar year after incidental fees are charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your card
- $200 Uber Cash ($15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December, after you add your card to your Uber account)
- $199 CLEAR Plus statement credit per year
- Unlimited airport lounge access
- Status with Hilton, Marriott, Hertz, Avis, and National
Though widely considered a status symbol for the jetset elite, the legendary The Platinum Card® from American Express can actually save you $1,000+ each year if you use it right.
Sure, the card charges a heart-palpitating annual fee (and it’s not waived for the first year), but you also get a welcome offer worth $800+ in travel, over $1,500 in travel credits, unlimited airport lounge access, and more.
So while it’s objectively expensive, it’s also packed with tons of value that can save frequent fliers tons of time, energy, and stress.
Best Hotel Rewards Card for Free Stays
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Rewards Rate
- Up to 26x total points at IHG properties
- 5x points on travel, gas stations, and restaurants
- 3x points on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$99
Even if you only stay in hotels a few times a year, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is worth considering for its 140,000-point sign-up bonus (worth $800+ in IHG stays).
You also get automatic Platinum Elite status (which unlocks free upgrades and more), and other perks that can save you hundreds at over 6,000 IHG properties worldwide.
Here are some of its other key offerings:
- Redeem 3 nights, get the 4th free
- Anniversary free night worth up to 40,000 points
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® credit
- $50 United Airlines TravelBank Cash annually
With the sheer amount of value it packs, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is virtually a no-brainer to anyone who plans to stay in a hotel this year.
For a moderate annual fee, you get a sign-up bonus worth $800+ in IHG stays, a $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® credit, automatic Platinum Elite status, a redeem-three-get-one-free bonus, and more.
Simply put, neither World of Hyatt Credit Card nor the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card can compete with this awesome free-night machine.
Best Airline-Specific Card for Flight Perks
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Rewards Rate
- 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, and at restaurants and gas stations
- 1 mile for every $1 on everything else
Welcome Offer
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 in the first 4 months
Annual Fee
$0 for the first year, then $99
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® offers a big sign-up bonus of 75,000 bonus miles after spending $3,500 in the first 4 months.
The card also gets you free first checked bags, preferred boarding, and 2x AAdvantage miles on dining, gas, and American Airlines purchases.
There’s also no annual fee for the first year, and its regular annual fee falls below average for a premium-tier airline rewards card.
Here are more details:
- Save 25% on in-flight food and beverage purchases
- $125 American Airlines discount after you spend $20,000 annually
- No foreign transaction fees
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® edges out the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express by having a better sign-up bonus, a lower annual fee, and because American Airlines offers cheaper flights to more destinations — meaning your miles can take you much farther.
There’s also no annual fee for the first year, and when the regular fee kicks in, it’s easy to justify since you and up to four travel companions will get free first checked bags on domestic flights.
All told, the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select is a superb travel companion for budget-minded travelers.
How To Compare Sign-Up Bonuses
It’s important to remember that Chase, Capital One, Amex, and others all use entirely different currencies.
In other words, one bank’s miles aren’t the same as another bank’s points.
So, how do you fairly compare sign-up bonuses to ensure you’re getting maximum value?
1. Understand cash value vs. travel value
If a card comes with a 75,000-point welcome bonus, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worth $750 in travel or cash. Heck, sometimes 75,000 points could be worth $1,000+ in travel — and $0 in cash.
It entirely depends on the value of the points or miles that you’re getting. Check out our guides to each before committing to one:
- Your Complete Guide to Amex Membership Rewards®
- Your Ultimate Guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Your All-in-One Guide to Capital One Miles
2. Know which partners you can transfer points to
Different cards have different transfer partners. For example, Chase allows Sapphire Preferred cardholders to transfer points to 14 partners, including Air Canada, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt.
Meanwhile, Capital One has 15+ transfer partners, but they’re mostly international airlines, so not ideal for domestic travelers.
It’s something to keep in mind if you like transferring points for maximum value.
3. Factor in the annual fee
Barring a handful of exceptions, most premium travel rewards cards will charge you your first annual fee right away.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, for example, has a welcome bonus worth $1,000 in travel — but it also has a $95 annual fee charged on your first statement. So it’s best to think of your “net” sign-up bonus as $905 in travel.
4. Don’t forget about the spending requirement to earn the bonus
One oft-overlooked factor when it comes to comparing sign-up bonuses is the spending requirement.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, for example, doesn’t just deposit 75,000 miles in your account as soon as you sign up; you have to spend $4,000 within three months of account opening, and that’s on top of the card’s $395 annual fee.
So, as enticing as they are, sign-up bonuses aren’t exactly free money — and you’ll want to consider your spending habits before committing to a card that encourages you to overspend over the next 90 days.
How To Maximize Your Sign-Up Bonus
It’s not enough to just sign up for a new card — you need to spend enough to get the welcome offer, but you also need to be strategic so you’re not going into debt.
Time your application before a big purchase
From the moment your application is accepted, the clock starts ticking on how long you have to earn your sign-up bonus.
To put it in perspective, say you have to spend $4,000 in 90 days. That means spending at least $1,333 per month for three straight months — no small figure if you’re living on a strict budget.
That’s why it’s best to time your credit card application roughly 10 to 60 days before a large purchase. I like to time my applications just before my auto insurance premiums are due; that way, I put a nice $1,000 dent in my spending requirement and don’t have to worry about overspending to earn my bonus.
Other examples might be a big electronics purchase, a planned auto repair like new tires, or flights and Airbnbs.
Give your physical card 10+ days to arrive
Another common mistake I see (and am personally guilty of) is waiting too late to apply for a card with a tasty sign-up bonus.
I once applied for a card three days before my auto insurance premium was due, totally forgetting that I couldn’t actually complete the transaction until my physical card arrived via snail mail 5 to 10 days later.
So if you’re timing your application around a big purchase, be sure to apply at least 10 days before the purchase so your card has time to arrive.
Meet the minimum spending requirement… without overspending
Here’s a quick litmus test: If you aren’t entirely sure how you’ll spend $4,000 in the next 90 days, now’s probably not the time to apply for a rewards card with a high spending requirement.
But if you’re keen on getting the card ASAP (maybe you need the sign-up bonus for your upcoming travel plans), there are still ways you can meet a spending threshold without overspending.
For example, you can cover large group meals and shared utilities for a few months, and simply have your friends/roomies pay you back via Venmo.
Set autopay to pay off your balance each month
Generally speaking, premium-tier rewards cards with attractive sign-up bonuses usually have a dangerously high APR (annual percentage rate).
That means if you miss a payment (or simply make the minimum payment), the interest can add up quickly, damaging your credit and chipping away at your sign-up bonus. Not good!
That’s why you’ll want to set up autopay on your account as soon as you open it, and make sure it’s set to fully pay off your balance each month.
If you’re concerned about your ability to fully pay off your balance each month, then now may not be the right time for a high-risk, high-interest travel rewards card. Here’s how to find one that’s a better fit.
Remember that sign-up bonuses can take months to arrive
Credit card sign-up bonuses can take a long, long time to land in your account, so it’s best not to count on them when you’re already “hungry” for points.
Let’s say you get the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It takes you 90 days to earn the bonus, then another six to eight weeks for the bonus to actually land in your account.
And since it’s best to book travel at least three months in advance, you may want to consider applying for the card at least 90 + 56 + 90 = 236 days (roughly eight months) before any actual travel plans you want to book using your sign-up bonus.
In other words, if you plan to fly somewhere for Christmas and use your sign-up bonus to cover the flights, the best time to apply for the card would be April!
Transfer points to partners for maximum value
Before you go redeeming points for cash or even travel, consider that many of these points can be transferred to select partner programs for even more value.
Transferring Amex Points to Air Canada Aeroplan is a classic example. Sure, you can always redeem 100,000 Amex Points for $600 cash or up to $1,000 via Amex Travel, but if you convert them 1:1 to Aeroplan points, you can squeeze $1,400+ in value out of them on select flights with Air Canada and its partners (including United Airlines).
Bottom Line: Are Travel Sign-Up Bonuses Worth It?
Choosing the right sign-up bonus can unlock free travel faster. But make sure you pick a card that fits your travel style, and plan ahead to ensure you’ll meet the spending requirement… without overspending.
It’s also smart to consider ways to maximize your points, whether that’s by booking through a travel portal or transferring points to a partner.
Frequently Asked Questions
It varies by card, but you typically have between three and six months to meet the spending threshold and earn your sign-up bonus.
It depends. Sign-up bonuses are typically card-specific, meaning you can open multiple credit card accounts with the same bank and earn a sign-up bonus for each one.
However, issuers have put in certain limitations. Amex, for example, has a “one bonus per lifetime” rule that says if you cancel a card and reapply for it a few years later, you can’t receive the bonus again. This also applies to some Amex cards that are within the same “family.”
Chase has an unofficial 5/24 rule that disallows you from earning a sign-up bonus if you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards from any bank in the past two years.
There are pros and cons to each option. When you cancel a credit card, some banks allow you to reapply for the same card 24 to 48 months later and earn another sign-up bonus. However, canceling a credit card can have a negative impact on your credit score.
When you downgrade a credit card to a no-fee version, it won’t impact your credit score, but you typically won’t qualify for the new card’s sign-up bonus.
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Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
