The best credit cards, according to TPG spokesperson Clint Henderson

Points, miles and credit card bonuses are what lit the travel flame for me once I entered my mid-30s and decided to prioritize travel in my life.

I have more than two dozen credit card accounts on my credit report, which have fed my travel addiction and enabled me to fly in the front of the plane all over the world. Since I started at TPG more than five years ago, my credit card habit has only grown.

But the biggest transformation for me has been in seeing how credit card bonuses can unlock the world of travel for everyone.

No matter if you want to fly business class to Asia or are eager to see grandma for Christmas for free, there is a credit card that can empower you, too.

These are my picks for the best credit cards that unlock amazing travel experiences thanks to points and miles.

The best credit cards

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees)
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• American Express® Gold Card
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees)
• Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees)
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire

The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire 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.

Comparing the best credit cards

Here are my top recommendations for the best credit cards.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

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Annual fee: $95.

Standout benefits: The Sapphire Preferred offers lucrative earning rates and valuable perks like 2 points per dollar spent on travel and 3 points per dollar spent on dining purchases. It's one of the best beginner credit cards, and I tell newbies to go with this card first when they're ready to get into the world of credit card rewards.

That being said, the Sapphire Preferred isn't just for beginners. I consider myself an expert, and it's a card I use again and again because of its lucrative earnings and — the best part — its roster of more than a dozen stellar Chase transfer partners.

By transferring directly to World of Hyatt and Air France-KLM Flying Blue, you can book hotel rooms and flights that provide maximum value. Over the years, I've used Chase points to book stays at some of the nicest hotels in the world, including the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome.

I've also used my Chase points to transfer to Air France for some amazing redemptions in business class. This allows me to get even higher value when redeeming my points.

Of course, leveraging transfer partners may not be for everyone. If this is you, the easiest way to use your stash of points may very well be through Chase Travel. The 60,000-point welcome bonus you'd earn with this card is worth $750 when you redeem your points this way.

I love the points-earning power of my Chase Sapphire Preferred. I also manage to use the $50 Chase Travel hotel credit every year, which helps offset more than half of the $95 annual fee. If you are looking for a great card with a low annual fee and lots of perks, the Sapphire Preferred is an excellent place to start.

For more information, check out our review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $395.

Standout benefits: If your goal, like mine, is to earn more than 1 point or mile per dollar on everyday purchases, the Capital One Venture X can be a solid addition to your wallet. This card earns 2 miles per dollar spent on nonbonus items like toys, clothes and utilities.

Most cards only offer bonus rewards in special categories like dining, groceries and gas. The base earning rate on the Capital One Venture X is like having a guaranteed bonus. Plus, cardholders earn 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals booked via Capital One Travel, which equates to a pretty sweet deal.

The Venture X has a $395 annual fee, but that's easily offset by a $300 annual Capital One Travel credit and an extra 10,000 bonus miles received each account anniversary.

Remember that Capital One also has 15-plus transfer partners, so you can send your miles to airlines and hotel partners to really maximize your redemptions. This card also gets you access to Capital One Lounges and lounges in Capital One's partner network.

For more information, check out our review of the Capital One Venture X.

Learn more: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

American Express Gold Card

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.

Annual fee: $325.

Standout benefits: This card has been on my wish list for years, but Amex won't issue it to me since I already have over two dozen cards. The best thing about the Amex Gold (aside from the welcome bonus, of course) is that you get bonus miles in two huge categories: dining and groceries.Cardholders earn 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar). This is a generous earning bonus for these two categories, which make up a big chunk of my budget. I also love that cardholders can earn 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.

The plethora of statement credits almost entirely offsets the card's annual fee. This includes up to $120 in Uber Cash (up to $10 per month, valid for rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. after using any Amex card when adding the Amex Gold to your Uber account) and up to $120 in dining statement credits with eligible dining partners (up to $10 per month). Enrollment is required.

Pro tip: Remember to look for transfer bonuses that Amex runs with travel partners so you can turn your points into miles and book airfare.

For more information, check out our review of the Amex Gold Card.

Apply here: American Express Gold Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $95.

Standout benefits: This is another great card, whether you are new to points and miles or use it as part of a bigger strategy. Just like the Venture X, you earn 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases. This makes the Venture Rewards a solid earner on purchases that don't otherwise fall into a bonus category.

I like that you can redeem these miles at 1 cent each against any travel charges you put on the card, which makes for a decent baseline redemption. You can also book flights, rental cars and hotels through Capital One Travel with your miles — also at a value of 1 cent apiece.

However, to get the maximum value out of your miles, you should transfer them to one of Capital One's 15-plus hotel and airline programs.

Just one example? Transfer the miles to Air France-KLM Flying Blue and book fancy business-class seats from the U.S. to Europe starting at 60,000 miles plus taxes and fees each way.

For more information, check out our review of the Capital One Venture Rewards.

Learn more: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Platinum Card from American Express

Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.

Annual fee: $695.

Standout benefits: The Amex Platinum remains my favorite card because it offers an impressive number of benefits, perks and statement credits, plus stellar lounge access. While I find the $695 annual fee outrageous, the statement credits alone more than make up for it, so much so that I wrote a whole article about why I'll never close it.These are among the benefits that, to me, justify the annual fee:

• Complimentary Gold status with Marriott and Hilton
• Up to $200 per calendar year in airline fee statement credits with an airline of my choosing
• Complimentary car rental status: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President's Circle, Avis Preferred Plus and National Emerald Club Executive
• Up to $200 in Uber Cash per calendar year, valid on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. (this credit is divvied into monthly up to $15 credits, plus an up to $20 bonus in December; Uber Cash will only be deposited into one Uber account when you add the Amex Platinum as a payment method and redeem with any Amex card)
• Up to $200 statement credit per calendar year for prepaid bookings with American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection when you pay with your Amex Platinum (note that Hotel Collection stays require a two-night minimum)

Enrollment is required for each benefit in the bulleted list above.

I also put all my airfare purchases on my Amex Platinum because I earn 5 points per dollar spent on airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) when I book directly with an airline or via Amex Travel.

I love getting access to Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges and Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta, too. (Enrollment is required for select benefits.)

Additionally, I've had amazing success using my American Express Membership Rewards points several times in the past few years to transfer Amex points to Air France-KLM's Flying Blue program. This allowed me to fly business class from New York to Paris and back for as few as 60,000 miles.

This remains my favorite card, even if I don't typically use it for everyday spending.

For more information, check out our review of the Amex Platinum Card.

Apply here: The Platinum Card from American Express

The Business Platinum Card from American Express

Welcome offer: Earn 150,000 points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after spending $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel within the first three months of card membership. You can earn one or both of these offers, which end June 30.

Annual fee: $695.

Standout benefits: While I don't have this card (yet), the best benefit by far is Pay with Points. Cardholders receive a 35% bonus when they Pay with Points on first- or business-class tickets through Amex Travel (up to 1 million points per calendar year). That means you essentially get to fly in the front of the plane on a steep discount when you pay with points.

The Amex Business Platinum comes with premium travel perks and business statement credits similar to the consumer Platinum Card, including Centurion Lounge access, a Priority Pass membership, an airline credit fee of up to $200 annually and Gold elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy (as outlined above for the consumer Platinum Card; enrollment may be required).

Several perks are also unique to the Business Platinum Card (enrollment required for select benefits; terms apply):

• Dell: An up to $400 statement credit per calendar year (broken down as up to $200 semiannually)†
• Indeed: An up to $360 statement credit per calendar year (up to $90 per quarter)
• Adobe: An up to $150 statement credit per calendar year (subject to auto-renewal)†
• Up to $200 in Hilton credits per calendar year (up to $50 per quarter; Hilton for Business membership required)
• Up to $120 in statement credits per calendar year for U.S. wireless telephone providers (up to $10 per month)

†The Dell and Adobe credits are set to change July 1.

While I haven't gotten the Business Platinum Card myself, it's high on my wish list. I'll try my luck at applying when I know I have some big purchases in the pipeline and can earn its massive welcome bonus.

For more information, check out our review of the Amex Business Platinum.

Apply here: The Business Platinum Card from American Express

Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

Welcome offer: Earn 90,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $95.

Standout benefits: I love my Ink Business Preferred card and its bonus categories — especially the online internet advertising category, which earns 3 points per dollar spent on up to $150,000 a year (then 1 point after that).

If you max out this annual bonus, those 450,000 points you earn can be used for travel bookings via Chase Travel for 1.25 cents each — but possibly more if you leverage Chase's network of airline and hotel transfer partners and transfer bonuses (when available).

Chase points are very versatile, and I use mine as quickly as I earn them. If you own a small business or even have a business idea, you can apply using your Social Security number. If you're looking for a solid business card, the Ink Business Preferred is a heavyweight, especially for the low annual fee of $95.

For more information, check out our review of the Ink Business Preferred.

Apply here: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

Bilt Mastercard

Welcome offer: None.

Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees).

Standout benefits: The best benefit of the Bilt card is the ability to earn points on paying rent without a transaction fee (see rates and fees).

As long as you make at least five purchases with the card each statement period, you can earn reward points on your rent payments — an incredible proposition for renters (since rent is typically a person's largest monthly bill).

As a renter in New York City, the Bilt card is a must-have in my wallet. What's even better is that this card offers the ability to make transaction fee-free rent payments without charging cardholders an annual fee (see rates and fees). Even if your landlord only takes checks, Bilt can send checks and automated clearing house direct deposits so you can earn points on the transactions (up to 100,000 points per year).

But that's not the card's only selling point. I also earn a large number of points on dining and pharmacy purchases every month. I use my Bilt card at Walgreens, where Bilt Rewards members can earn extra Bilt Points on purchases, no matter what credit card they use.

I earn 1 point per dollar spent on all Walgreens purchases, 2 points per dollar spent on Walgreens-branded items and 100 points per prescription refill (subject to certain exclusions). This specific perk alone has netted me thousands of points.

Dining is another solid Bilt reward-earning category. I earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining and 2 points per dollar spent on travel purchases. But on the first day of every month (aka "Rent Day"), these earnings double (excluding rent, up to 1,000 points).

Here's an example of how those earnings can add up. On May 1, I spent $7.65 at the Chicago Athletic Association, $24.31 at Shake Shack and $20 at Starbucks. Because it was a Bilt Rent Day, I earned 22 points for dining on that $7 purchase, plus another 22 points for Rent Day. Shake Shack earned me 144 points, and Starbucks got me 60 points. That's 248 points on just $51 in purchases.

With Bilt Rewards, the points really add up. The best feature, I think, is that Bilt often runs transfer bonuses to one or more of its 19 transfer partners. For example, back in January 2024, Bilt ran a 100% transfer bonus to Air France-KLM Flying Blue. I transferred 32,000 Bilt points to Air France, and, thanks to that transfer bonus, 32,000 points became 64,000 miles in my Flying Blue account — a truly stellar deal.

For more information, check out our review of the Bilt Mastercard.

Apply here: Bilt Mastercard

Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card

Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first six months from account opening.

Annual fee: $650.

Standout benefits: I've written extensively about the Delta SkyMiles Reserve over the years, and while the benefits have changed, it continues to hold a place in my wallet despite a high $650 annual fee.

The card gives some valuable statement credits (several of which require enrollment), including an up to $20 monthly Resy credit (up to $240 each calendar year) to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants. I've been able to use this credit at local Upper West Side neighborhood restaurants.

I've also been able to maximize the up to $10 per month credit for ride-hailing services (up to $120 each calendar year) with eligible providers within the U.S. I usually use it to get a Revel car service ride at least once a month.

The card also comes with an up to $200 annual Delta Stays statement credit. Last year, I was able to use it to save some cash on an Atlanta hotel reservation.

I like the annual companion certificate benefit as well. It lets you bring a companion with you on a round-trip ticket within the continental U.S. or to Mexico, the Caribbean or Central America for the cost of taxes and fees. This can even be used for domestic first-class tickets.

Then there's the TakeOff 15 benefit, which I think is one of the Delta Reserve's standout features, as it gives you a 15% discount on all Delta award tickets.

For more information, check out our review of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve.

Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Welcome offer: Earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months from account opening.

Annual fee: $550.

Standout benefits: The Hilton Aspire is another of my favorite credit cards. It comes with automatic top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status, which has come in handy during multiple stays over the years of holding the card.

That status means you're eligible for suite upgrades and get automatic executive lounge access (where there's a lounge). You'll also sometimes be granted early check-in or late checkout. No other hotel chain offers top-tier status just for keeping its branded card.

I recently got access to the swanky lounge at the Conrad Seoul in South Korea just for having Diamond status, saving me hundreds of dollars on food.

The card also has valuable bonus categories where you can really rack up the Hilton Honors points. Among the bonus categories are 14 points per dollar spent at hotels within the Hilton portfolio, 7 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com, 7 points per dollar spent on select dining at U.S. restaurants and 3 points per dollar spent on all other purchases.

As a Hilton Diamond, you also get a 100% points bonus at most Hilton properties.

You'll get a bunch of statement credits to boot as well. These include up to $200 a year in airline incidental credits (broken up as up to $50 per quarter statement credits for eligible flights made directly with an airline or through amextravel.com) and another up to $400 in Hilton resort credits (broken up as up to $200 semiannually).

Finally, and potentially most lucratively, the card gets you a free night award that can be used at almost any Hilton property in the world. I've used mine over the years at the Niepce Paris Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton; the Waldorf Astoria Chicago; and the incredible Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Learn more: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

What to consider when choosing the best card

There isn't a one-size-fits-all strategy for picking the best credit cards. There are several factors you should analyze before selecting which ones deserve a spot in your wallet.

Preferred rewards

First, consider the type of rewards you want to earn for your purchases. If you want simplicity, a cash-back card may be a great option since you generally have few limitations on how those rewards can be used. On the other hand, if you're after free travel or want to really maximize your spending, you may be better off with a transferable rewards currency like American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Welcome bonus

Earning a big haul of points or miles as a welcome bonus is typically the best way to quickly boost your rewards balance. This is particularly lucrative if one of the cards you're considering has a limited-time offer. Just be sure to review each issuer's eligibility requirements, and consider checking your credit score in advance of your application so you have an idea of whether you'll be approved.

Spending habits

Before opening any credit card (or opening a new one), take some time to analyze your spending habits over the last year, along with how you're earning rewards on any cards currently in your wallet.

If you spend a ton at restaurants, be sure you have a card that rewards you when making dining purchases. If you have a significant commute, pick up a card that rewards you for gas or transit expenses. It's easy to double or even triple your earning rates for many purchases with the right combination of cards.

Annual fee

Finally, you should consider the out-of-pocket cost of any new card on your radar. While some have no annual fee (or skip the annual fee for the first year), others have hefty ones, as you saw in the list above.

In the first year, almost every card with a solid welcome offer will pay for itself (and then some), but you should take some time before you apply to make sure you can truly take advantage of that card's benefits, both now and in the future.

How we chose the best credit cards

Many factors go into our selection of the best credit cards, including earning rates, welcome offers, benefits and perks. The cards I list above have personally allowed me to earn tens of thousands of dollars worth of rewards over the years.

You can learn more about how we analyze cards here at TPG on our methodology page.

Redemption options for the best credit cards

Most of the cards I list above have something in common: Several of them earn transferable points or miles ... and that's no coincidence. These rewards are incredibly valuable because of the flexibility they offer.

In most cases, you're not locked into one airline and its partners or one hotel program and its participating brands. You are in the driver's seat when it comes time to redeem.

For example, I want to fly business class on Virgin Atlantic from London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) home to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in the carrier's Upper Class on July 28.

The one-way flight I need is $10,185. I could use more than a million American Express Membership Rewards points to book it through American Express Travel. However, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has prices as low as 66,000 points (plus $898 in taxes and fees), and it, too, partners with Amex.

That means I can transfer 66,000 points from Amex to Virgin to book a seat that would have cost more than $10,000 in cash. That's the power of points and miles.

Bottom line

My journey through the world of travel has been fueled by credit card bonuses and rewards. I always tell people that since they are going to be spending money anyway, they might as well earn points and miles on every charge and get something back.

Sometimes, the things we get back can be a whole lot better than just getting 1% to 2% cash back.

While there isn't one perfect card, the ones I've discussed here are some of the best that work for my earn-and-redeem reward strategy. I hold several of the cards on this list and use them frequently, even paying exorbitant annual fees year after year after year, simply because of all the benefits these cards provide.

Weigh the pros and cons of each card before deciding which ones might work best for your unique spending patterns. And remember, if you're unable to pay off your card balances every month, then opening a new card with a higher spending requirement to earn a welcome bonus may not be the best call. Instead, consider starting with a product that features a manageable spending threshold — and that you'll use responsibly. The value of your credit card rewards significantly decreases if you accrue high-interest debt to earn them.

Apply the right strategy so you come out ahead. Happy shopping!

For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click here.
For the rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Dealt SkyMiles Reserve Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.