If you’ve caught the travel bug and are planning family trips around the world, it is imperative that you have a good family travel credit card to use when booking. We asked our Families Who Love to Travel group contributors to share their favorite travel credit cards and let us know the perks they receive with each. Read through the details of each of the top 3 family travel credit cards and choose the one that will earn you the most miles!
1. Capital One Venture Rewards
Points: Earn 2x miles per dollar on every purchase
Annual Fee: $0 for the first year, $95 annual fee after
Bonus Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account.
Other Benefits: Receive $100 towards Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees once every four years.
With the Capital One Venture Rewards travel credit card, you earn 2x miles per dollar on all purchases which makes this a great card for everyday spending. You can transfer your miles to 15 different airline partners, though most are not US based, and also use them to book hotels, car rentals and more. This card is a great choice if you’re on the fence about making a commitment, due to there being no annual fee for the first year which allows you to get comfortable with the rewards program.
2. Chase Sapphire Preferred
Points: Earn 3x points on dining, online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale) and select streaming services, 2x points on travel (or 5x total points if purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards) and 1x point on everything else.
Annual Fee: $95
Bonus Offer: Earn 100,000 bonus points once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account.
The Preferred version of the Chase Sapphire card is more affordable and may serve as a beginner card for many families. The account opening bonus is even better than with the Reserve card, and the annual fee is under $100 per year. This card may also be easier to apply for if your credit is not that great. There is also no fee to add another authorized user to the account. However, you won’t receive as many benefits, and will earn points slower, than with the Reserve card.
3. Chase Sapphire Reserve
Points: Earn 3x points on travel (or 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on car rental and hotels if purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards), 3x points on dining (or 10x total points if purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards) and 1x point on everything else.
Annual Fee: $550
Bonus Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account.
Other Benefits: Receive a $300 annual travel credit and a credit of up to $100 towards Global Entry/TSA PreCheck once every four years. You also receive Priority Pass Select lounge access.
The Reserve version of the Chase Sapphire card may scare some families away with the high annual fee. However, it comes with an annual $300 travel credit, plus a credit towards the fee for Global Entry, which nearly cancels out the annual cost of the card. You will earn points faster and receive a greater amount of insurance coverage with this card. The Priority Pass Select membership gives you access to hundreds of lounges around the world and even free meals at select airport restaurants. If you’re a frequent traveler who would take advantage of these perks, it’s definitely worth choosing the Reserve over the Sapphire.
If you’re up for travel hacking, the Chase Sapphire Reserve will give you the most opportunities to find hidden ways to earn extra miles. But if you prefer a simple card that maximizes your spending without you having to worry about it, the Capital One Venture Rewards card is a great basic option. It’s also important to carefully consider the travel insurance, car rental insurance and lost baggage reimbursements offered by each card. Many cards will also offer limited time sign-up bonuses that you may want to watch for if you’re not in a hurry to sign up. We hope our review of the top three family travel credit cards helps you on your way to earning free travel with your families!
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