The best cards for travelers
By Rachel Lipson
August 2, 2025
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Figuring out which cards to use when you’re a frequent traveler can be challenging. Offers may appear in your inbox, on billboards and even in flight! With all the info out there, it can be really hard to know which card is right for you. Whether you’re looking for a personal card or a business card, here are some important points (no pun intended!) to consider when making your choices.
Transferable points
Using a card that earns transferable points can make a big difference when it comes time to book a flight with points or miles. Rather than earning points or miles from a specific airline or hotel, earning points that can transfer to various transfer partners will help you get the most out of your points.
Lounge access
Ideally, you arrive at the airport with enough time to check any bags and get through security but not so much time that you’re stuck sitting at the gate. But, if you have lounge access, you may find yourself actually wanting to arrive earlier to enjoy it!
Certain cards can offer access to lounges even with an economy ticket. For families, lounges can make a huge difference in cost when spending time at the airport. The free drinks, meals and snacks can save you money while the calm and relaxing environment at the airport can help set your family up for success on a long flight.
Multipliers
Credit card multipliers are a way to earn more rewards in specific spending categories. Instead of earning a flat rate—like 1 point per dollar—you might earn 2x, 3x, or even 5x points or miles on certain purchases, such as restaurants, take out, travel, groceries, or gas. These “multipliers” make it easy to maximize rewards simply by using the right card for the right purchase.
Some cards offer bonus rates automatically, while others require category activation or have monthly caps. Understanding where your card offers the best return is key to building points faster — without changing your spending habits.
The personal cards we recommend
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
With a lower annual fee and multipliers that make a lot of sense for most travelers, this card is the #1 card we recommend holding for both travel and at home.
While in the US, it’s fairly easy to use any card but overseas, it’s imperative to have a Visa or Mastercard for purchases. The Sapphire Preferred is a Visa card, with no foreign transaction fee and is widely accepted all over the world pretty much wherever cards are accepted.
And a bonus: the Sapphire’s best in class travel insurance kicks in when booking a one way flight (doesn’t have to be round trip!). Because we recommend booking most flights as two one ways, this is an important benefit. When booking a flight with points, we recommend putting the taxes on this card so that insurance kicks in.
Here are the benefits of the Sapphire Preferred:
Earn 5x points per dollar spent on all travel booked through Chase Travel℠
Earn 3x points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target®, Walmart® and wholesale clubs)
Earn 2x points per dollar spent on all other travel
Earn 1x points per dollar spent on all other purchases
Annual $50 hotel credit when you book through Chase Travel
Travel and purchase protections
10% anniversary points boost
$95 annual fee
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Between the excellent lounge access including the Sapphire Lounge, the travel credits and multipliers that give many other cards a run for their money, this card comes out ahead of many other cards any way you look at it.
Here are some of the benefits of the Sapphire Reserve:
Earn 8x points per dollar on all Chase Travel℠ purchases
Earn 4x points per dollar on flights and hotels booked directly
Earn 3x points per dollar spent on dining purchases worldwide
Earn 1x points per dollar spent on all other purchases
Purchases that qualify for the annual $300 travel credit will not earn points. Once the $300 travel credit has been used completely then those travel purchases will earn the respective points.
$500 credit for The Edit, Chase's curated collection of luxury hotels and resorts, broken up into $250 semiannual credits (use toward pre-paid bookings of two nights or more)
Biannual $150 dining credit to use with Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables; $300 annually
Chase Sapphire lounge access
Priority Pass Select membership
$795 annual fee
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The American Express® Gold Card
Rates & fees, terms apply
Thanks to this card’s excellent multipliers, card holders have the opportunity to earn significant points each month by using this card on everyday purchases.
Take for example the 4x points offered at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1x points for the rest of the year). This multiplier has the potential to earn your family up to 200,000 additional Membership Rewards points each year.*
Then, there’s the 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x). If your family spends around $2000 a month at supermarkets, using this card has the potential to earn you an additional 100,000 points per year.*
*Enrollment required for select benefits; terms apply.
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American Express Platinum Card®
Rates & fees, terms apply
The American Express Platinum Card® can get you airline lounge access — including Centurion Lounge access, Priority Pass Select lounge access (excluding restaurant locations) and Delta Sky Club access when flying same-day Delta flights (limited to 10 annual visits) — for eligible card members through the American Express Global Lounge Collection.*
*Enrollment required for select benefits; terms apply.
This card is a heavy hitter when it comes to airport lounges. With access to the Centurion lounges, Priority Pass Select and a limited number of visits to Delta lounges, it checks a lot of boxes for folks looking for an elevated airport experience.
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The business cards we recommend
The Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠
With the high multiplier on flights and hotels booked with hotels and airlines directly, the lounge access and a whole slew of benefits and credits that outweigh the annual fee (a couple times over!) this card is a top choice for the savvy business traveler.
Some of the perks, benefits and details of the Sapphire Reserve for Business:
8 points per dollar spent on Chase Travel℠ bookings
5 points per dollar spent on Lyft (through Sept. 30, 2027)
4 points per dollar spent on flights and hotels booked directly
3 points per dollar spent on social media and search engine advertising (uncapped)
1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Complimentary access to Chase Sapphire and Priority Pass lounges (cardholders can bring up to two guests for free)
IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status (available through Dec. 31, 2027).
Chase Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables on OpenTable: Access primetime reservations at select restaurants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Concierge service for dining, entertainment and travel
Travel and purchase protections
Free employee cards
$25 monthly DoorDash promos (enrollment required)
$10 monthly Lyft credit (through Sept. 30, 2027).
$250 biannual The Edit credit
$200 biannual ZipRecruiter credit (through Dec. 31, 2027).
$50 biannual Giftcards.com credit (through Oct. 31, 2028).
$300 annual travel credit
$200 annual Google Workspace credit (through Dec. 31, 2027).
Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus credit every four years
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The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Rates & fees, terms apply
With 2 points per dollar on purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1x points for the rest of the year, this card’s everyday multiplier can really help to boost your points stash. This is a great card to have for business purchases that wouldn’t otherwise fall into a higher category on another card.*
*Enrollment required for select benefits; terms apply.
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American Express® Business Gold Card
Rates & fees, terms apply
The American Express Business Gold Card earns 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 categories where your business spends the most in each billing cycle from the following 6 categories:
Purchases at US media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
U.S. purchases at gas stations
Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S. (Any purchases from Google Fi, third Parties, authorized retailers or resellers are excluded).
While your top 2 categories may change each billing cycle based on where your business spent the most, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories from this list each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.
Annual fee $375
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
This card can be incredible for businesses with purchases that fall into these above categories. For business that are able to fully maximize the 4x categories, there is a potential to earn up to 600,000 points in a calendar year.
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The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Rates & fees, terms apply
Similar to the personal version of this card, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express can get you airline lounge access — including Centurion Lounge access, Priority Pass Select lounge access (excluding restaurant locations) and Delta Sky Club access when flying same-day Delta flights (limited to 10 annual visits) — for eligible card members through the American Express Global Lounge Collection.*
*Enrollment required for select benefits; terms apply.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS CARD
There are so many things to consider when getting a credit for travel. Hopefully these tips help you make smart choices for your family and business!
Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Brooklyn Family Travelers and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
