These Are the Best Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee, Highest Rewards and Large Cash Bonuses for 2023
WRITTEN BY 5 REASONS TO VISIT® EDITORIAL STAFF
PUBLISHED MAY 2023 • 4 min read
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No annual fee travel credit cards offer rewards for no yearly cost of card ownership. This can be appealing to infrequent travelers and those on a budget. Keep in mind that these cards lack the richer rewards and perks of cards that do charge annual fees.
For some travelers, paying an annual fee is worth it thanks to those incentives, which can include things like travel credits, bonus rewards, airport lounge access, free checked bags, priority boarding, hotel status and more. The value of such perks can more than offset an annual fee. But for those who are adamantly opposed to paying one, these are the best zero annual fee travel cards.
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Credit Card: Best for General travel
The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers so much value, it's hard to believe there's no annual fee. Start with a great bonus offer, then earn extra rewards in a host of common spending categories—restaurants, gas stations, transit, travel, streaming and more.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card: Best for General travel
One of the best no-annual-fee travel cards available, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card gives you a solid rewards rate on every purchase, with points that can be redeemed for any travel purchase, without the restrictions of branded airline and hotel cards. Bank of America® has an expansive definition of “travel,” too, giving you additional flexibility in how you use your rewards.
Discover it® Miles Credit Card: Best for General travel
The Discover it® Miles Credit Card is the rare travel credit card that lets you redeem your rewards for travel or for cash back at the same rate. (Also rare among travel cards is its intro APR period for balance transfers.) You earn unlimited 1.5 miles per dollar spent on purchases, and the miles are generally worth 1 cent apiece—that's a solid rate for a card with no annual fee. As with other Discover cards, this one matches the rewards you earn in your first year.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Best for General travel
With the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, you don't pay an annual fee, but you also don't get rewards as rich as those on the regular Venture card.
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Credit Card: Best for Airline travel
For occasional but loyal American Airlines flyers, the no-annual-fee American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Credit Card is a cost-effective way to earn not only miles but also credit toward elite frequent-flyer status.
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Credit Card: Best for Airline travel
To unlock the most valuable perks of airline credit cards, you'll have to pay an annual fee. But if you're a leisure traveler just hoping to earn airline miles in the background, it's hard to do better than the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Credit Card.
United Gateway℠ Credit Card: Best for Airline travel
This entry-level card gives occasional leisure flyers who prefer United Airlines a way to try out an airline credit card for free. Unlike a lot of cards in its class, the United United Gateway℠ Credit Card won't cost anything to carry, even if you seldom use it. But it lacks valuable airline-card perks, such as free checked bags and early boarding.
JetBlue Credit Card: Best for Airline travel
With the JetBlue Credit Card, you can earn easy rewards on everyday purchases in addition to airfare. And you won’t have to worry about blackout dates once you’re ready to redeem them.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Best for Hotel rewards
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card offers bonus rewards not only on purchases at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, but also on other travel purchases. Plus, you'll earn automatic Silver status and the valuable perks that come with it.
Hilton Honors American Express Credit Card: Best for Hotel rewards
The Hilton Honors American Express Card earns bonus rewards on Hilton stays and in common everyday categories. You also get automatic Silver status.
Wyndham Rewards® Visa® Credit Card With No Annual Fee: Best for Hotel rewards
The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Credit Card rewards you well for Wyndham stays, while also earning bonus points in some popular everyday categories. It offers Gold status and a way to earn a free night each year if you spend enough, all for a $0 annual fee.
Best Western Rewards® Mastercard: Best for Hotel rewards
The Best Western Rewards® Mastercard offers solid rewards you can redeem for stays and a variety of other options. With automatic Gold status, you also get additional perks.
IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card: Best for Hotel rewards
The IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card earns rewards quickly on IHG hotel stays and eligible everyday purchases.
