By Lisa Gomes, Founder of Lesbifriends Travel
I love to travel. That's probably not surprising, considering I own a travel company. But long before I was organizing group trips through Lesbifriends Travel, I was someone who genuinely enjoyed exploring new places, discovering different cultures, and figuring out how to make my travel dollars go further.
Over the years, I've learned that one of the most useful tools for making travel more affordable and enjoyable is something many of us already have in our wallets: a credit card.
I'm not talking about going into debt to take vacations. Quite the opposite.
I'm talking about being intentional with money you're already spending, earning rewards on those purchases, and using those rewards to help pay for flights, hotels, and other travel expenses.
I recently had a couple of friends ask me for credit card recommendations, one specifically for travel and another for business and personal use. As I started putting together my recommendations, I realized this information might be useful to our broader Lesbifriends community.
So, here's how I approach credit cards, which ones I think are worth exploring, and how to decide which might work best for you.
First, let's talk about my credit card philosophy
I know not everyone likes credit cards. Some people prefer debit cards or cash because they don't want to accumulate debt, and I completely understand that.
But when used responsibly, credit cards can be incredibly useful.
That means groceries, dining out, subscriptions, flights, hotel stays, and other everyday expenses can potentially earn points, miles, or cash back.
Paying the full statement balance by the due date generally helps avoid purchase interest when the card has a grace period. You don't need to carry a balance or pay interest to earn rewards.
Here's a simple example:
If you spend $2,000 a month on regular expenses using a card that earns 2% cash back, that's $480 in rewards over a year. And you haven't necessarily spent a dollar more than you otherwise would have.
The important part is discipline. I don't recommend spending more just to earn points, chasing welcome bonuses you can't comfortably afford, or carrying high-interest balances for the sake of rewards.
If paying in full isn't realistic right now, prioritizing debt repayment or using a debit card may be the better financial decision.
Not all travel credit cards are created equal
I generally think about travel credit cards in three categories, plus a fourth worth mentioning:
Four Kinds of Cards Worth Knowing
Flexible Travel Rewards Cards
Earn points or miles that can be redeemed across different airlines, hotels, or travel purchases.
Airline Credit Cards
Reward loyalty to a specific airline and may offer benefits such as checked bags, boarding privileges, or companion benefits.
Hotel Credit Cards
Reward stays with a particular hotel brand and may provide annual free-night awards, elite status, or room-related perks.
Cash Back Cards
Not specifically travel cards, but the money you earn can absolutely go toward your next vacation.
The right card depends on how you actually travel.
Lesbifriends TravelMy picks for flexible travel rewards
If you're not particularly loyal to one airline or hotel brand, I'd start here.
My Picks for Flexible Travel Rewards
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Why It's Worth Considering |
|---|---|---|
| American Express Platinum | $895 | Premium airport lounge access, hotel benefits, travel and lifestyle credits, and 5X points on eligible flights and prepaid hotels. |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | $95 | Flexible travel points, transfer partners, travel protections, dining rewards, and an annual Chase Travel hotel credit. |
| Capital One Venture X | $395 | 2X miles on purchases, lounge access, $300 annual Capital One Travel credit, and 10,000 anniversary miles. |
| Capital One Venture | $95 | Unlimited 2X miles on everyday purchases, flexible travel redemptions, and no foreign transaction fees. |
| American Express Gold | $325 | Strong rewards on eligible restaurant and U.S. supermarket spending, plus travel transfer partners. |
| Capital One VentureOne | $0 | 1.25X miles on purchases, flexible travel rewards, and no annual fee. |
Annual fees and benefits reflect October 2026 information and are subject to change.
Lesbifriends TravelAmerican Express Platinum: For travelers who value the experience
I have the American Express Business Platinum, and it's one of the cards that has influenced how I think about travel benefits.
The personal Platinum offers a different collection of perks, but both are designed for travelers who appreciate benefits beyond simply accumulating points.
Depending on the card, these can include airport lounge access, hotel upgrades or credits, travel-related statement credits, and other benefits that make traveling more comfortable.
But there's a catch: the personal Platinum's $895 annual fee is substantial.
I would never recommend getting this card just because it sounds impressive. The value depends on whether you'll actually use its benefits.
If you frequently travel, spend time in airports, book hotels, and already use services covered by its credits, the math may work in your favor.
If you take one trip every couple of years, probably not.
Chase Sapphire Preferred: A strong all-around option
For someone who wants a good travel rewards card without a particularly high annual fee, Chase Sapphire Preferred is worth considering.
It earns rewards on travel, dining, and several everyday spending categories. Its points can be used through Chase Travel or transferred to participating airline and hotel loyalty programs.
It also includes travel protections, which are worth paying attention to when comparing cards.
At $95 annually, it's one of the cards I'd suggest researching first if you're getting serious about earning travel rewards.
Capital One Venture and Venture X: Keep it simple
I personally have Capital One VentureOne, which has no annual fee.
The Venture and Venture X cards are worth considering for people who want to earn 2X miles on everyday purchases without worrying about rotating categories.
Venture X also offers lounge access, annual travel credits, and anniversary miles.
One thing to remember is that certain benefits require booking through Capital One Travel, and lounge guest-access rules can differ from what people expect.
What about airline credit cards?
This is where knowing your travel habits really matters.
I have held or currently hold airline-related cards connected to Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue, American Airlines, and Virgin.
Why so many? Between personal travel and organizing trips for Lesbifriends, I have different travel needs and airline relationships.
But I wouldn't recommend that everyone have multiple airline cards.
If you regularly fly one airline, a branded card might make sense. If you always book whichever airline has the best flight and price, a flexible travel rewards card may be more useful.
Here's what I'd explore:
Airline Cards Worth Researching
| Airline | Cards Worth Researching | Potential Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, Reserve | Checked baggage benefits, boarding privileges, companion certificates on eligible cards, and SkyMiles earnings. |
| United Airlines | United Explorer, Quest, Club | Checked baggage, priority boarding, United Club benefits on eligible cards, and MileagePlus rewards. |
| Southwest Airlines | Southwest Rapid Rewards cards | Rapid Rewards points, airline-specific travel benefits, and opportunities to work toward Companion Pass qualification. |
| JetBlue | JetBlue Plus and other JetBlue cards | TrueBlue points, eligible baggage benefits, and JetBlue-related travel perks. |
| American Airlines | Citi AAdvantage cards | AAdvantage miles, eligible baggage benefits, boarding privileges, and loyalty-related rewards. |
| Virgin Atlantic / Virgin Red | Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard | Virgin Points that may be useful across participating Virgin travel and lifestyle partners. |
Airline cards can be particularly useful if you check bags frequently, travel with companions, or are working toward a particular loyalty benefit.
However, the details matter. A free checked bag might require you to pay for the flight with the card, and companion certificates often have restrictions, taxes, fees, or expiration dates.
Before applying, I'd look at the airline you actually use most often and compare the annual fee against the benefits you realistically expect to use.
Don't overlook hotel credit cards
Hotels can represent a significant portion of travel expenses, especially for people who take multiple trips each year.
I have an American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business card, and hotel rewards are another part of my travel strategy.
For travelers who consistently stay with a particular brand, hotel cards can be worth exploring.
Hotel Cards to Explore
| Hotel Brand | Credit Cards to Explore | Potential Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, Bevy, Brilliant, Business | Bonvoy points, annual Free Night Awards on eligible cards, elite status benefits, and hotel-related perks. |
| Hilton Honors | Hilton Honors, Surpass, Aspire, Business | Hilton points, elite status, eligible property credits, and free-night benefits on qualifying cards. |
| World of Hyatt | World of Hyatt personal and business cards | Hyatt points, qualifying-night credits, elite status opportunities, and eligible free-night awards. |
| IHG One Rewards | IHG Traveler, Premier, Premier Business | IHG points, hotel-related benefits, and anniversary free nights on eligible cards. |
My advice is to look at where you already stay.
If you're consistently booking Marriott properties, a Marriott card might be a natural fit. If you stay wherever you find the best rate, a flexible travel card may be more practical.
Also, don't assume hotel points have the same value across brands. Compare the cash price of a room with the points required before redeeming.
What if you own a business?
As the founder of Lesbifriends Travel, I look at business credit cards a little differently.
Running a travel company involves paying for services, subscriptions, contractors, travel arrangements, and other operational expenses. Those purchases can potentially earn rewards too.
For entrepreneurs and small business owners, a business card can also help separate business and personal expenses, which makes bookkeeping easier.
Some options worth exploring:
Business Cards Worth Exploring
| Business Credit Card | Annual Fee | Why Consider It |
|---|---|---|
| Amex Blue Business Plus | $0 | 2X Membership Rewards points on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases per calendar year, then 1X. |
| Amex Blue Business Cash | $0 | 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases per calendar year, then 1%. |
| Amex Business Platinum | $895 | Premium travel benefits, lounge access, and business-related credits. |
| Capital One Spark Cash | Depends on version | Straightforward cash back on eligible business purchases, with some versions offering unlimited 2%. |
| Chase Ink Business Preferred | $95 | Rewards on qualifying travel, advertising, shipping, and telecommunications expenses. |
I particularly like the simplicity of cards that earn rewards across spending categories without requiring me to constantly track which card to use.
For business owners, I would also recommend comparing employee card options, expense management tools, foreign transaction fees, and the way rewards are redeemed.
One important note: Business cards are intended for qualifying business activity. They aren't automatically the right choice for someone who only needs a personal travel card.
Can a credit card with an annual fee actually be worth it?
Absolutely. But only if the numbers work for you.
Let's say a card costs $395 annually and you receive a $300 travel credit that you fully use on a trip you were already planning.
Can an Annual Fee Be Worth It?
That's before considering any other benefits, like anniversary miles or airport lounge visits.
Look at the actual value you'll use, not just the advertised value.
Lesbifriends TravelIf the card also provides anniversary miles, airport lounge visits, or other perks you would otherwise pay for, the value may exceed the annual fee.
But here's where I think people get caught up: A credit card company might advertise hundreds or thousands of dollars in potential benefits. That doesn't mean those benefits are worth that amount to you personally.
If you wouldn't normally spend money on a particular service, a credit for that service isn't necessarily saving you money.
Five things I check before choosing a travel credit card
- The annual fee. Can I reasonably justify it based on benefits I'll actually use?
- How points are earned. Does the card reward my normal spending, such as travel, groceries, dining, or business expenses?
- How points can be redeemed. Can I transfer points to airlines or hotels, book travel directly, or use rewards toward travel purchases? Are there restrictions?
- Travel protections and international usability. Does it offer trip delay or cancellation coverage, rental car protection, or no foreign transaction fees? I also check whether the card network is widely accepted where I'm traveling.
- The welcome bonus. Is the offer valuable, and can I meet the spending requirement through normal expenses without stretching my budget?
I also consider my credit score, existing credit obligations, and whether opening another account makes sense at that particular time.
And remember, credit card travel insurance isn't necessarily a substitute for a separate travel insurance policy. Always read the coverage terms.
A few mistakes I'd encourage you to avoid
- Don't apply for a card simply because someone says it's the best.
- Don't pay a $500 or $900 annual fee for benefits you don't use.
- Don't spend extra money just to reach a welcome bonus.
- Don't assume points are worth the same amount everywhere.
- And please don't carry a high-interest balance just to collect travel rewards.
A card earning 2% back isn't helping much if you're paying 20% or more in annual interest on a revolving balance.
My credit card referral links
Several friends have asked which cards I use, so I'm sharing my referral links for anyone interested in exploring the options.
Full disclosure: I may earn points, miles, cash back, or another referral bonus if you apply through an eligible link and are approved. Depending on the offer, you may also qualify for a welcome bonus. You are under no obligation to use my links.
Some American Express referral pages may allow you to explore additional personal or business cards beyond the one initially displayed.
American Express
Always check which specific card is offered through a referral link and compare its welcome offer with the publicly available offer before applying.
The bottom line: Let your everyday spending work for your travel goals
I don't believe you need to be wealthy, travel internationally every month, or have a wallet full of premium credit cards to benefit from travel rewards.
You can start with one no-annual-fee card, learn how its rewards program works, and build from there if it makes sense.
For me, credit cards are one part of a larger approach to traveling intentionally. I want to enjoy the experiences that matter to me while being thoughtful about how I spend my money.
Sometimes that means using points toward a flight. Sometimes it means enjoying an airport lounge during a long layover. And sometimes it's simply earning cash back on purchases I was going to make anyway.
The goal isn't to collect the most credit cards or accumulate points just for the sake of having them.
The goal is to make the money you're already spending work a little harder for the experiences you want to have.
And if those experiences include seeing more of the world, even better.
Editor's note: This article reflects personal experience and general information, not individualized financial advice. Card fees, rewards, eligibility, and benefits can change. Some benefits require enrollment or specific purchases. Review the current issuer terms and your own financial circumstances before applying.
