Do you refuse to pay an annual fee of $95 or more for a credit card? No problem - you can still earn fantastic travel rewards with these cards that, in some cases, can be worth more than cash back.
Everyone loves the idea of travel hacking their way across the globe. Trouble is, many of the best travel rewards credit cards have annual fees of $95 or more, and most don't love the idea of paying an annual fee to earn "free" travel. Fortunately, there are plenty of good no annual fee travel rewards credit cards.
These cards are perfect if you want to pocket points toward a free vacation but don't spend enough - or don't want to spend enough - on your cards justify an annual fee. In some cases, you might just be against the idea of paying an annual fee on principle.
Either way, consider those top travel reward cards that do not charge an annual fee.
Best no annual fee travel rewards credit cards
BankAmericard Travel Rewards Credit Card
Card Highlights
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire
- 20,000 online bonus points if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days - that can be a $200 statement credit toward travel purchases
- Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions
If you're looking simplest way to earn ongoing travel rewards, look no further than the BankAmericard Travel Rewards Credit Card.
This card offers a generous sign-up bonus of 20,000 bonus points - worth up to $200 in travel - for new customers who spend $1,000 on new purchases within 90 days of account opening.
You also earn an unlimited 1.5 points per dollar spent on must purchases. Each point is worth one cent as statement credits towards travel purchases.
Also, existing Bank of American checking and savings account holders can earn a 10 percent customer points bonus, which equates to 1.65 cents per dollar spent.
There's no annual fee for this card and not foreign transaction fees either.
- Best for: Frequent or infrequent travelers who want generous-but-simple rewards on every purchase with one card. Also, international travelers.
- Keep looking if: You don't mind using multiple cards strategically to optimize your rewards across programs and potentially earn a higher rewards rate.
Amex EveryDay
Although not advertised as a travel credit card, the Amex Everyday credit card is worth considering if you're eyeing a no annual fee credit card to earn free travel.
That's because one of the best ways to earn free travel from your credit card is to earn reward points that can be transferred to points or frequent flyer miles at several different hotel brands and airlines. This allow you to use your rewards wherever they are most valuable, rather than be stuck with miles for a single airline.
The Amex EveryDay is the only card I know of that allows you to this with no annual fee. The card offers new customers 10,000 bonus points after making $1,000 in new purchases within three months of account opening. You also earn double points at U.S. supermarkets (on our first $6,000 of eligible spending each year), and one point per dollar spent elsewhere. Also, if you use your card at least 20 times in the statement period, you'll earn a 20 percent bonus on points earned during that period.
Points are earned in the American Express Membership Rewards program and can be transferred to miles with 17 different frequent flyer programs including Delta, Air Canada, Jet Blue, British Airways, and Virgin America. There's no annual fee for this card, but there is a 2.7 percent foreign transaction fee. (Learn why you might want care about these fees, or about the best cards that do not charge them.)
- Best for: Consumers with excellent credit who can use this card at least 20 times per month and are willing to plan award by transferring Membership Rewards Points to partner hotels and airlines.
- Keep looking if: You won't make at least 20 purchases a month or you don't want the hassle of transferring points or want a card to use outside the United States.
The JetBlue Card from Barclaycard
Card Highlights
- Earn 5,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.
- Earn 3 points per $1 on JetBlue purchases, 2 points per $1 at restaurants and grocery stores and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
- No blackout dates on JetBlue-operated flights & redeem for any seat, any time on JetBlue-operated flights. Points required for an Award Flight will vary based on the published base fare at the time of booking.
The JetBlue Card is a rare airline co-brand card that doesn't charge on annual fee.
It offers new cardholders 5,000 bonus points after their first purchase, and 3x points for all JetBlue purchases. You also get double points for all restaurant and grocery store purchases, and one point per dollar spent elsewhere.
Unlike other airlines' complicated redemption rules, JetBlue points can be redeemed for any flight they operate, with no blackout dates. This is one of several reasons Greatvest Tools thinks JetBlue Mosaic is the best frequent flyer program for casual travelers. You don't have to be a road warrior or frequent flyer nerd to earn - and actually use - miles on JetBlue. When you use the JetBlue Card for your paid flights, groceries, and restaurant purchases, you'll earn that free travel faster.
One thing to keep in mind with JetBlue: The number of points required for an award flight will correlate closely with its current price. That is, in part, what makes JetBlue points so easy to redeem, but will make JetBlue less attractive to optimizers who are looking to extract value from their miles.
There's no annual fee for the JetBlue Card and no foreign transaction fees either. For a $99 annual fee, the premium version -- The JetBlue Plus Card - gives you a richer sign-up bonus (30,000 points for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days) and gives you 6 points per dollar spent on JetBlue flights.
- Best for: Infrequent travelers who can fly JetBlue and want a straightforward way to earn free JetBlue flights.
- Keep looking if: You can't easily fly JetBlue or want more flexibility in how you redeem your rewards.
Discover it Miles
Card Highlights
- Unlimited 1.5x rewards on every purchase, every day. For every $1 you spend, you earn 1.5x Miles.
- Get a mile-for-mile match of all the rewards you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically.
- Redeem your rewards in any amount for cash or a travel credit. You'll always get $1 for every 100 Miles you've earned.
The Discover it Miles Card rewards you with miles that can be redeemed at one cent each as statement credits toward any travel reservations.
You earn 1.5 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, with no limits.
Perhaps the best things about this card is that Discover will automatically match the miles that you've earned during your first year. For example, if you spend $15,000 on the card in the first year, you would earn 22,500 miles worth $225 toward travel. At the end of your first year, you'll receive another 22,500 - worth another $225 in free travel. That makes for an effective 3 percent rewards rate on every purchase during your first year.
Other Discover card benefits include purchase protection, price protection, extended warranty coverage, and a return guarantee. This card also offers $30 each year in statement credits towards in-flight Wifi purchases. There's no annual fee for this card and foreign transaction fees. Keep in mind, however, that while Discover cards are accepted almost everywhere in the United States, you'll run into limited acceptance overseas.
- Best for: Infrequent or frequent travelers who want an easy, flexible rewards program. Or consumers who can charge a large amount to this card in the next year to take advantage of the matched miles promotion.
- Keep looking if: You want to strategically plan your spending to try to earn more than 1.5 cents in travel per dollar spent or you're looking for a card to use outside the U.S.
Hilton HHonors Card from American Express
As with airline credit cards, it's rare to find a hotel rewards card without an annual fee. The Hilton HHonors Card offers you 7x points for charges at all Hilton portfolio properties, 5x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations, and 3x points everywhere else.
Points can be redeemed for free night stays at Hilton portfolio hotels and resorts with no blackout dates or capacity controls. You also receive complimentary HHonors Silver status and the opportunity to earn Gold status when you spend $20,000 with your card in a calendar year. There's no annual fee for this card, but there is a 2.7 percent foreign transaction fee.
- Best for: More frequent travelers who prefer Hilton hotels. Best if you can meet the $20,000 annual spending threshold to obtain free Gold status.
- Keep looking if: You don't already stay at Hilton hotels at least 10 nights a year; You want a card to use outside the United States.
The Expedia+ credit card from Citi
Many travelers prefer to make their reservations through an online travel agency, rather than shopping directly with dozens of airlines, hotels, and car rental companies. Expedia is one of the largest online travel agencies, and you can earn additional reward points from them with this card.
It offers new customers 15,000 Expedia+ bonus points after spending $1,000 within three months of accounting opening. You an also earn 3x points for all Expedia purchases, and one point per dollar spent elsewhere. Points are worth 1.33 cents each towards +VIP Access hotels, but less when redeemed for flights and other hotels. There's no annual fee for this card, but there is a 3 percent foreign transaction fee.
- Best for: You book all of your travel on Expedia and are mostly interested in using rewards for upscale hotel stays.
- Keep looking if: You want the flexibility to book directly with airlines or hotels or you want a card to use outside of the United States.
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