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The world of credit cards can seem overwhelming when you're just starting. But if you want to move on from your cash-back card (or even a student card), you're in the right place. The right starter travel card can offer much more rewarding perks.
With so much information and so many options, how do you know which card to choose? Do you want transferable points? Airline miles? Free nights with a hotel chain? There are no right or wrong answers to these questions — it's all about what's important to you.
We've assembled this list of the best starter credit cards so you don't end up with rewards that don't match your goals. None of these cards are tied to complicated, difficult-to-understand programs, nor do they have intimidating annual fees, though they all have the potential for outsize value.
And all of them are worth keeping in your credit card inventory for the long term.
Related: How to pick the right travel credit card for you
Best starter travel rewards cards
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees)
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees)
- American Express® Gold Card
- American Express® Green Card
- Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees)
- Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first three months from account opening. |
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| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months from account opening. Plus, receive a $250 Capital One Travel credit for use in the first cardholder year upon account opening. |
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| Citi Strata Premier Card | Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. |
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| American Express Gold Card | Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 within the first six months of cardmembership. You may see higher, targeted offers in the CardMatch tool (subject to change at any time; not everyone will be targeted for the same offers). |
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| American Express Green Card | Earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 within the first six months of cardmembership. |
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| Bilt Mastercard | None |
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| Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card | Earn 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days of account opening. |
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Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of our favorite travel cards for a reason. If you have a good enough credit score, this card can be a fantastic starter travel card.
Annual fee: $95
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Welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first three months from account opening.
According to TPG's April 2025 valuations, these 100,000 bonus points are worth $2,050.
Why it's a great starter card: There's a good reason why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is our top pick for our list of starter cards. In addition to the lucrative welcome offer, cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Chase Travel, along with the following:
- 5 points per dollar with Lyft (through Sept. 31, 2027) and on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more (through Dec. 31, 2027, with a limit of 25,000 bonus points)
- 3 points per dollar on dining (including takeout and delivery), select streaming services and online grocery orders (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs)
- 2 points per dollar on other travel
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
The Ultimate Rewards points it earns are easy to use with 11 airline and three hotel loyalty program partners, such as United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt. Your points can also be redeemed for 1.25 cents apiece to book travel through Chase Travel.
The card also has terrific travel benefits, including primary insurance when renting a car and no foreign transaction fees. You'll also enjoy $50 in annual statement credits for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel, and each year, on your account anniversary, you'll enjoy a 10% points bonus on your spending from the previous year.
When you add in the welcome bonus and an annual fee of only $95, you have a card that offers great value, especially if you're just starting out in the world of travel rewards.
To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Venture Rewards doesn't have complicated bonus categories to track, which may make it the perfect fit for your wallet.
Annual fee: $95
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months from account opening. Plus, receive a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in the first cardholder year upon account opening.
According to TPG's April 2025 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $1,638 when considering the value of the travel credit.
Why it's a great starter card: This card's flexibility makes it ideal for travelers getting started in the points and miles world or those who aren't inherently loyal to a single hotel chain or airline.
First, you earn a flat 2 miles per dollar spent on everything, meaning you don't have to keep track of different spending categories. However, that earning rate jumps to 5 miles per dollar for hotels, vacation rentals and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
You'll also get an up-to-$120 credit to cover the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
With this card, you'll be able to take advantage of Capital One's 15-plus airline and hotel partners. This card packs a lot in for a $95 annual fee and even makes the cut as one of our overall best travel credit cards.
To learn more, read our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Learn more: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Citi Strata Premier Card
If you want a single card to cover a wide range of bonus categories, the Strata Premier is exactly what you're looking for.
Annual fee: $95
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.
According to TPG's April 2025 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $1,080.
Why it's a great starter card: The beauty of the Citi Strata Premier Card is its breadth of bonus categories. The card earns 3 ThankYou points per dollar on air travel, other hotel purchases, restaurants, gas stations, EV charging stations and supermarkets, helping you rack up lots of points in no time.
If you book hotels, attractions and car rentals through CitiTravel.com, you'll enjoy a fantastic 10 points per dollar on your spending.
When it comes to spending those points, you can transfer them to any of Citi's 21 travel partners.
You can also receive $100 off one hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) per year when you book through CitiTravel.com. The card has no foreign transaction fees and a $95 annual fee.
To learn more, see our full review of the Citi Strata Premier.
Apply here: Citi Strata Premier Card
American Express Gold Card
The Amex Gold is a great choice for anyone who spends a lot of money on food. With this card, you'll rack up tons of points on many of your food purchases.
Annual fee: $325 (see rates and fees)
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 within the first six months of cardmembership. However, be sure to check the CardMatch tool to see if you're targeted for an even higher bonus (offers are subject to change at any time; not everyone will be targeted for the same offers).
According to TPG's April 2025 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $1,200.
Why it's a great starter card: The Amex Gold Card is fantastic for anyone looking to leverage their everyday spending for excellent rewards — while also enjoying useful statement credits for things like dining and ride-hailing services.
You'll earn 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year at U.S. supermarkets (then 1 point per dollar), 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on amextravel.com and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
Cardmembers also receive up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year (up to $10 per month) toward dining purchases at select merchants and up to $120 per calendar year ($10 per month) in Uber Cash toward U.S. Uber rides and U.S. Uber Eats orders after downloading and enrolling your Amex Gold card in your Uber account. You can redeem it with any Amex card. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
Other perks include access to The Hotel Collection*, the Global Assist Hotline^ and several shopping and travel protections on the card.
*Minimum two night stay required; eligible charges vary by property.
^Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Gold Card.
Apply here: American Express Gold Card
American Express Green Card
The Amex Green is often overlooked, but it's definitely a card young professionals and beginner travelers alike should consider.
Annual fee: $150
Welcome offer: Earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 within the first six months of cardmembership.
According to TPG's valuations, this welcome offer is worth $800.
Why it's a great starter card: The Amex Green Card's broad bonus-earning categories and relatively low annual fee make it great for beginner travelers. With it, you'll earn 3 points per dollar on travel, transit and dining at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.), allowing you to rack up points both at home and while traveling.
The Membership Rewards you'll earn with this card are extremely versatile, and you'll be able to book your next trip in no time by transferring your points to one of Amex's 21 transfer partners, including Delta Air Lines SkyMiles and Marriott Bonvoy.
You'll also get travel benefits like an up to $199 Clear Plus credit each calendar year, travel insurance and shopping protections. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
Learn more: American Express Green
Bilt Mastercard
If you pay rent, having the Bilt Mastercard in your wallet is a smart choice.
Annual fee: No annual fee (see rates and fees)
Welcome offer: None
Why it's a great starter card: Many beginners in this hobby also pay monthly rent. If you pay by bank deposit, cash or check, your landlord shouldn't charge you a fee. Paying your rent by credit card often involves transaction fees, but that's not true with the Bilt Mastercard.
The Bilt card even works with landlords who don't accept credit card payments, so you can earn Bilt Points without paying a transaction fee (see rates and fees). Cardholders can earn up to 100,000 points on rent each calendar year.
However, you need to make at least five transactions on your card each month to earn rewards, which come at the rate of 1 point per dollar on rent, 2 points per dollar on travel and 3 points per dollar on dining purchased outside of Bilt Dining. Cardholders can also earn 5 points per dollar on Lyft after connecting their Bilt and Lyft accounts.
Additionally, the card offers several perks like Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection, Trip Delay Reimbursement and No Foreign Transaction Fees (see rates and fees). The card also offers World Elite Mastercard benefits, including Cellular Telephone Protection (subject to a $25 deductible; see rewards and benefits) and Lyft credits every month you use your card to pay for three or more Lyft rides.
The points earned on this card can be transferred to 13 airlines and five hotel partners.
To learn more, read our full review of the Bilt Mastercard.
Apply here: Bilt Mastercard
Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card
If you want a card that offers simplicity or if you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, we recommend checking out the Bank of America Travel Rewards.
Annual fee: No annual fee
Welcome offer: Earn 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within 90 days of account opening.
Why it's a great starter card: For beginners, points and miles can seem daunting, so it's good to have a card with a simple earning structure. The Bank of America Travel Rewards offers 3 points per dollar on travel purchases in the Bank of America Travel Center and an unlimited 1.5 points per dollar spent on all other purchases.
What's more, if you are a Bank of America banking customer, you can earn additional points under the Preferred Rewards program. Bank of America Preferred Rewards members earn a points boost between 25% and 75% (depending on your tier) on every purchase.
Just note that you'll need a three-month average of at least $20,000 across your Bank of America and Merrill accounts to qualify.
The points earned on this card can be redeemed as a statement credit for travel or dining purchases at a flat rate of 1 cent per point. This card doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee.
To learn more, read our full review of the Bank of America Travel Rewards card.
Apply here: Bank of America Travel Rewards
What credit score do you need for a travel credit card?
Most travel credit cards require good-to-excellent credit, meaning you'll want a score over 650. That's not to say that you won't be approved if your score isn't that high, but it is a good rule of thumb when considering applying for a credit card.
If you don't currently have a good credit score or lack credit history, you'll want to build credit with a beginner or secured card or by becoming an authorized user on someone else's card.
Related: What credit score do I need for the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
Don't forget about Chase's 5/24 rule
If you're still torn about which card to get, it's worth thinking about Chase's 5/24 rule, as it can influence your decision. According to this rule, Chase will likely reject your application if you've opened five or more personal cards across all issuers in the last 24 months (most business cards don't count toward your total).
Because of this restriction, conventional wisdom is to start by using up your five slots with Chase before moving on to other issuers. When you're just starting with travel rewards, it can be easy to underestimate the importance of this rule, but Chase offers some of the most valuable travel rewards cards on the market. If you don't get them first, you might not be able to get them for a while.
Sometimes, it makes sense to ignore the 5/24 rule and set off in a different direction, but it's not a decision you should make lightly. Unless you have a good reason for looking elsewhere, you should start with a Chase card first.
For more on this rule and the rules the banks use for credit card applications, see our guide to credit card application restrictions.
Bottom line
With so many travel rewards cards out there, choosing which one to apply for might seem overwhelming. But you can't go wrong with any of the choices on this list, as all the options offer great rewards rates and an introduction to the world of points and miles. So, decide what your travel goals are, then use this guide to pick the right card.
Related: Are travel credit cards worth it?
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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