Best card for travel (ground only)
The cards we track, ranked by what they earn on travel (ground only), with the credits and perks that sweeten the category.
Which card is best for travel (ground only)? The ranking below scores each card's travel (ground only) rate in cents per dollar at published point valuations; the calculator does the same across your whole monthly spend.
Cards that cover Chase Travel
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American Express Business Platinum Card $600/yrStatement credits up to $300 semi-annually on prepaid bookings through Amex Travel with Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection.$300 semiannual
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Chase Sapphire Reserve $500/yrStatement credit of up to $250 per prepaid booking with The Edit, up to $500 annually, two-night minimum required.$500 calendar year
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Chase Sapphire Reserve Business Card $500/yrUp to $500 in automatic statement credits annually for bookings made with The Edit (2-night minimum), max $250 per transaction.$500 calendar year
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Capital One Venture X Card $300/yrReceive a $300 annual credit for hotels, flights, vacation rentals and more through Capital One Travel.$300 calendar year
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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card $200/yrUp to $50 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $200 back each year, on flight purchases made directly with an airline, through AmexTravel.com, or through the Amex Travel App.$50 quarterly
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United Quest Card $200/yrAutomatically receive $200 in United TravelBank cash after account opening and annually on your account anniversary, for a future United- or United Express-operated flight.$200 calendar year
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United Business Card $125/yrReceive $125 in United TravelBank cash after making 5 United flight purchases of $100 or more each calendar year.$125 calendar year
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American Express Gold Card $100/yrTake advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when booking The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or Amex Travel App. Requires two-night minimum stay.$100 one-time/annual
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Chase Sapphire Preferred $100/yrEarn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel.$100 calendar year
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United Club Business Card $100/yrReceive $50 in United TravelBank cash, up to $100 each anniversary year, for 1st and 2nd Avis or Budget car rentals booked directly through cars.united.com and paid with the card.$100 one-time/annual
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United Club Infinite Card $100/yrReceive $50 in United TravelBank cash on each of your first and second Avis or Budget car rental bookings through cars.united.com, up to $100 each anniversary year.$100 one-time/annual
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Venture X Business $100/yrElevate your stay at luxury hotels, resorts and vacation rentals from the Premier Collection with a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits on every booking.$100 one-time/annual
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Capital One Venture Rewards Card $50/yrReceive a $50 experience credit on every Lifestyle Collection hotel or vacation rental stay booked through Capital One Travel.$50 one-time/annual
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United Explorer Card $50/yr$25 in United TravelBank cash for each of the 1st and 2nd Avis or Budget rentals booked directly through cars.united.com, up to $50 each anniversary year.$50 one-time/annual
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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card $25/yrReceive $25 United TravelBank Cash deposited around January 5 and another $25 around July 5 each year (up to $50 annually) after registering with MileagePlus account.$25 calendar year
Perks for Chase Travel
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Venture Business $50/yrLifestyle Collection (Capital One Travel)
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VentureOne RewardsCapital One Travel
Which card
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Chase Sapphire Reserve$3,000 credit (one-time/annual)Reimbursement up to $3,000 per covered traveler for lost, damaged, or stolen checked or carry-on bag
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Chase Sapphire Preferred$3,000 credit (one-time/annual)Provides reimbursement up to $3,000 per covered traveler for lost, damaged, or stolen checked or car
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Chase Freedom Unlimited$6,000 credit (one-time/annual)Reimbursement up to $1,500 per covered traveler and $6,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable pas
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Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card$3,000 credit (one-time/annual)Receive up to $3,000 in luggage reimbursement per trip if bags are lost due to theft or misdirection
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Chase Ink Business Preferred Card$10,000 credit (one-time/annual)Reimbursement up to $5,000 per covered traveler and $10,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable tr
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Chase Sapphire Reserve Business Card$20,000 credit (one-time/annual)Reimbursed up to $10,000 per covered traveler and $20,000 per trip for pre-paid non-refundable trave
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Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card$3,000 credit (one-time/annual)Provides reimbursement up to $3,000 per covered traveler for the cost to repair or replace checked o
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IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card$6,000 credit (one-time/annual)Reimbursement up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expens
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Amazon Prime Card$3,000 credit (one-time/annual)Provides reimbursement up to $3,000 per covered traveler for the cost to repair or replace checked o
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United Quest Card$3,000 credit (one-time/annual)Provides reimbursement up to $3,000 per covered traveler for checked or carry-on baggage that is los
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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card$10,000 credit (one-time/annual)Reimbursement up to $5,000 per covered traveler and $10,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable tr
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United Club Infinite Card$3,000 credit (one-time/annual)Reimbursement up to $3,000 per covered traveler for lost, damaged or stolen checked or carry-on bagg
Learn
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Travel Portals vs. Transfer Partners Lesson, phase 3: RedemptionA bank portal prices your points at a fixed rate. A transfer partner prices them by its own award chart, and that is where the outsized value lives.
Good to know
- Rates apply to the issuer's definition of the category, which can be narrower than the everyday word (a warehouse club is rarely "groceries").
- Enter your actual monthly travel (ground only) spend in the best card finder to see the value in dollars, alongside every other category you spend in.
Related
Hold any of these cards? Ask your own wallet about Travel (ground only) and Find answers from your cards, cycle state included.