THE BEST CREDIT CARDS FOR DINING AND TRAVEL BENEFITS
The best travel and dining cards offer an assortment of premium perks, concierge services and other benefits. For both travelers and foodies, adding the right credit card to your wallet is a great way to earn rewards, save money and gain access to exclusive events, memberships and clubs. At Trips To Tables, we’ve done the research to curate a selection of the best cards for you, whether you’re an individual looking to just get started earning rewards or a savvy traveler seeking out exclusivity and luxury to elevate your dining and travel experiences.
With a wide range of travel cards available on the market, which ones are truly worth it?
A number of factors will dictate what card is best for you including your credit score, frequency of travel and overall value. Starting out, I personally preferred cards with a 0% APR, but as I got older I started to prefer cards offering more exclusive and luxury offerings. With this in mind, I’ve collated my recommendations for the best cards available with a focus on what a potential new cardmember is searching for.
Best Overall Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve - Best All-in-One
For individuals seeking the best card for both dining and travel, I recommend the Chase Sapphire Reserve. With a wide variety of benefits including a $300 annual travel credit, a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, complimentary airport lounge access, and 1-to-1 points transfer to some of the leading airline and hotel loyalty programs, the Sapphire Reserve card offers cardholders a premium value experience. If you would prefer a card with a lower annual fee, my recommended beginner travel card may better suit your desires.
Best Travel Cards
Capital One Venture - Best Beginner Travel
The best travel card for beginners, in my opinion, would be the Capital One Venture series. Offering reasonable credit limits and a low introductory APR, cardholders can earn unlimited 2x miles for every $1 they spend (Venture) and up to 10x miles on hotels and rental cars (Venture X). For those seeking a card with no annual fee, the VentureOne offers 1.25x miles on every purchase and a 0% intro APR for 15 months. The Venture ($95 annual) and Venture X ($395) provide increased rewards value for their added cost.
American Express Platinum - Best Luxury Travel
For overall value, despite its high annual fee, there is no better travel option than the American Express Platinum card. With benefits including $200 hotel and airline credits, TSA Pre Check, and airport lounge access, the Amex Platinum is a must-have for any frequent traveler. Consider the annual fee more like an annual investment, akin to your monthly gym membership. Be sure to research all that this card offers you to get the most out of it. While this card provides users with amazing rewards and benefits, it is important that you closely monitor your personal finances and always use your card responsibly.
Best Dining Cards
Capital One SavorOne - Best Beginner Dining
As with travel, I prefer cards with 0% APR that offer quality cash rewards and benefits for those beginning their credit building journey. With the Capital One SavorOne card, users can earn up to 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, and grocery purchases. If much of your spending centers around these categories, the SavorOne would be a great option for you. Additional perks include rewards redemption to pay for purchases via PayPal or on Amazon, access to exclusive reservations via Capital One Dining, and complimentary concierge service for dining, travel, and entertainment.
American Express Gold - Best Luxury Dining
Just like its higher-annual fee sibling, the American Express Gold card provides cardholders with unique benefits at a premium. New members can earn 60,000 bonus points as part of AmEx’s introductory welcome offer*. Perfect for avid foodies, the Amex Gold card offers a $120 annual dining credit and 4x rewards at restaurants and on grocery purchases. Beyond dining, further benefits include a $100 experience credit for bookings at The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel, no foreign transaction fees, and Preferred Access for sporting events and other entertainment.
*Bonus points are earned after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of membership.
