Best Travel Credit Cards for No Annual Fee in 2024
The best travel credit cards with no annual fees come with welcome offers for new cardholders. The top ones let you earn points or miles faster through bonus categories. Several of these cards do away with foreign transaction fees.
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Rajiv Baniwal
Finance Journalist
Rajiv Baniwal is a former finance writer at MoneyGeek, with more than 15 years of experience covering financial topics. His expertise includes mortgages, loans, credit cards, insurance and international money transfers. Baniwal has a bachelor’s degree in art studies from Delhi University.
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Lee Huffman
Credit Card and Personal Finance Expert
Lee Huffman is a credit card and personal finance expert at MoneyGeek. He has spent 18 years as a financial planner and corporate finance manager, with 12 years of experience writing about early retirement, credit cards, travel, insurance and other personal finance topics. His writings are published on The Points Guy, Investopedia and NerdWallet. Huffman earned his business management degree from Pepperdine University and his master's degree in eBusiness from the University of Phoenix. He enjoys showing people how to travel more, spend less and live better through the power of travel rewards.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/moneygeek/image/upload/c_scale,q_auto:eco,f_auto,fl_lossy,w_100,b_white/v1629953789/DSC_6123_rajiv_bee_d5319262af.jpg)
Rajiv Baniwal
Finance Journalist
Rajiv Baniwal is a former finance writer at MoneyGeek, with more than 15 years of experience covering financial topics. His expertise includes mortgages, loans, credit cards, insurance and international money transfers. Baniwal has a bachelor’s degree in art studies from Delhi University.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/moneygeek/image/upload/c_scale,q_auto:eco,f_auto,fl_lossy,w_100,b_white/v1622039788/Lee_Huffman_6307b39dce.jpg)
Lee Huffman
Credit Card and Personal Finance Expert
Lee Huffman is a credit card and personal finance expert at MoneyGeek. He has spent 18 years as a financial planner and corporate finance manager, with 12 years of experience writing about early retirement, credit cards, travel, insurance and other personal finance topics. His writings are published on The Points Guy, Investopedia and NerdWallet. Huffman earned his business management degree from Pepperdine University and his master's degree in eBusiness from the University of Phoenix. He enjoys showing people how to travel more, spend less and live better through the power of travel rewards.
Updated: March 14, 2024
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The top no-annual-fee travel credit cards we’ve selected include co-branded and non-co-branded ones. Co-branded travel cards come with benefits for frequent users of a particular airline or group of hotels. The best cards from this category give you the means to earn bonus miles/points through spend-based welcome offers.
The miles or points per dollar you stand to earn vary from one travel credit card to the next. For instance, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card offers up to 2x miles per dollar on category-based spending. With the Hilton Honors American Express Card, you can earn up to 7x points per dollar on bonus categories.
Other aspects that require your attention when choosing from the best travel credit cards with no annual fees include APRs, foreign transaction fees and added perks.
Each month, MoneyGeek experts go through our extensive database and select all new and existing no-annual-fee travel credit cards. An in-depth comparison follows, where they pay due attention to parameters such as welcome offers, reward rates, APRs and foreign transaction fees. Only then do they publish their revised list of the top cards from this segment.
This article is part of our larger series on
Best Travel Credit Cards
MoneyGeek’s Take: Top 5 Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee
Quick Summary
- Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card: A great miles rewards card with no annual fees.
- Hilton Honors American Express Card: A good travel rewards card for people who are casual guests at Hilton hotels and resorts.
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card: Solid dining rewards card with no annual fee.
- American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card: A great travel card with no annual fee for frequent flyers on American Airlines.
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Rewards: The best travel rewards card with no annual or foreign transaction fees.
Points/miles earn rates depend not just on the card you get but also on applicable bonus categories. While all the cards we've selected come with welcome offers, they're not the same, even with cards from the same issuer. We have accounted for these factors as well as others such as foreign transaction fees, APRs and added benefits in arriving at our list of the best travel credit cards with no annual fees. Scroll further down the page to view other good cards from this category.
- Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
A great miles rewards card with no annual fees
- up to 2 Miles per $1*Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
We love the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card for more than its no-annual-fee feature. This card lets you earn 2X miles on restaurants worldwide and Delta purchases. All other purchases come with 1X miles.
An welcome offer gives you the ability to earn 10,000 bonus miles. All you need to do is spend at least $1000 on purchases within the first six months.
This card comes with no international transaction fees, which makes it perfect for use when traveling overseas. Other travel benefits include earning 20% as a statement credit when you use your card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases and complimentary car rental loss and damage insurance.
Cardholders also stand to benefit through purchase and fraud protection in different scenarios.
Pros
- No annual fee
- With welcome offer
- Gives perks for Delta purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Good/excellent credit needed
- Limited benefits compared to others
- No lounge access perks
- Less rewarding for non-Delta spend
- Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- No Annual Fee. See Rates and Fees
- Earn 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- Earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, and 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay with Miles: take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
- Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your Card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. See Rates and Fees
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates and Fees
Moneygeek.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. - Hilton Honors American Express Card
A rewarding travel card for people who are casual guests at Hilton hotels and resorts
- 3–7 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a traveler's dream come true. With no annual fee and a generous welcome bonus, it's a financial no-brainer for those frequenting Hilton properties or just seeking exceptional value. Whether dining out stateside or shopping abroad, you'll accumulate points seamlessly without those pesky foreign transaction fees. And here's the kicker — this card instantly boosts you to Hilton's Silver status! Want more perks? Just up your spending game, and Gold status awaits. This card truly embraces both the occasional and the dedicated traveler.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Generous welcome bonus
- High earning rates with Hilton
- No foreign transaction fees
- Automatic Hilton Silver status
Cons
- Potentially high APR
- High credit requirement
- Earn 70,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points and a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first six months. This offer is available until July 31, 2024.
- Collect 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and resorts.
- Receive 5X Points per dollar when you shop at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations.
- Get 3X Points on all other eligible purchases.
- No annual fee See Rates and Fees
- Enjoy Hilton Honors™ Silver status just for having the card. Plus, if you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year, you'll be upgraded to Hilton Honors™ Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
- With no foreign transaction fees, you can make purchases abroad without any extra costs. See Rates and Fees
- Terms Apply
- See Rates and Fees
Moneygeek.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. - U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
Solid dining rewards card with no annual fee
- 1–4 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- 18.24% – 29.24% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- 0Recommended Credit
We love that this card offers a terrific rewards rate on dining purchases without the annual fee to match that so many competitors in this category have. You can also earn a sizable bonus after meeting a fairly low spend threshold, which is a great kickstart to your rewards balance.
Pros
- Impressive 4X points on dining and restaurants
- Intro APR for both purchases and balance transfers
- Flexible redemption options
- No annual fee
- Annual bonus for streaming services
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- No transfer options for points
- Fairly short APR period
- No special travel perks
- Four points per dollar spent on dining (including takeout and delivery)
- Two points per dollar spent on grocery, gas and streaming service purchases
- One point per dollar on all other spending
- Earn 20,000 bonus points if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 billing cycles (18.24%–29.24% variable APR after)
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fee
- Get a $15 credit once a year when you use your card to pay for eligible streaming services such as Netflix, Spotify and Amazon Music
- Redeem your reward points for online shopping, a statement credit, travel through the Altitude Rewards Center and more
Moneygeek.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. - American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
A great travel card with no annual fee for frequent flyers on American Airlines
- 1–2 Miles per $1Rewards Rate
- 21.24% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- ExcellentRecommended Credit
We recommend this American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card to American Airlines frequent flyers who wish to earn rewards without paying an annual fee. New cardholders get 15,000 bonus miles after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months.
You earn 2x miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases and at grocery stores. All other purchases come with 1x miles. Further, you get to save 25% when you use your card to pay for in-flight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights.
Using this card outside of the U.S. might not be a good idea, given that it comes with a 3% foreign transaction fee.
Pros
- Higher rewards on groceries and American Airlines purchases
- No annual fees
- 25% discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases
- Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
Cons
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- Limited travel perks
- Earn two AAdvantage miles for each dollar spent on groceries and eligible American Airlines purchases
- Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles if you spend $500 in purchases within the first three months
- Redeem your miles for award flights on American Airlines to over 1,000 destinations across the globe
- Get access to Citi Concierge 24 hours a day, seven days a week for restaurant bookings, gift shopping and more
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
An excellent balance transfer card with travel rewards
- 0% Intro APR (then variable APR)Balance Transfer Offer
- 15 MonthsBalance Transfer Duration
- 19.99%–29.99% VariableAPR
- 3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other timeBalance Transfer Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card offers exceptional value and flexibility for both frequent travelers and everyday spenders. It allows you to earn 5X miles on hotel and rental car bookings made through Capital One Travel and 1.25X miles on all other purchases. The card also provides a generous welcome bonus of 20,000 miles when you spend $500 within the first three months. The enticing welcome bonus and the absence of annual and foreign transaction fees add further value to this card. While there are some considerations, such as a balance transfer fee and potentially higher ongoing APR, this card's overall quality and functionality make it a desirable option for consumers seeking flexibility and rewards.
Pros
- Unlimited earning potential
- Welcome offer with low spend requirement
- Decent intro APR offer on balance transfers and purchases
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance transfer fee of 3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time
- Somewhat short intro APR offer period
- High ongoing APR
- No impressive travel protections
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on all purchases.
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked using Capital One Travel.
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles (equivalent to $200 if redeemed for travel) after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
- Miles don't expire as long as the account remains active.
- You can use your miles to reimburse travel purchases or book a trip on Capital One Travel. You can also transfer your miles to over 15 travel loyalty programs.
- Enjoy a 0% intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. Afterward, the APR is 19.99%–29.99% variable. There's a balance transfer fee of 3% on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months.
Moneygeek.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Summary of the Best Travel Cards for No Annual Fee
Take a look at this no-annual-fee travel card comparison table to determine who these cards are best suited for and the credit you need to apply. You may also check how they fare against each other when it comes to rewards rates.
- Credit CardBest ForAvg. Reward RateAnnual FeeCredit Needed
- Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express CardA great miles rewards card with no annual feesup to 2 Miles per $1*$0
- Hilton Honors American Express CardA rewarding travel card for people who are casual guests at Hilton hotels and resorts3–7 Points per $1*$0
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® CardSolid dining rewards card with no annual fee1–4 Points per $1$0
- American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® CardA great travel card with no annual fee for frequent flyers on American Airlines1–2 Miles per $1$0
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardAn excellent balance transfer card with travel rewards
- IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit CardGreat card for earning points fast for IHG loyalists2-17 Points per $1$0
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit CardGreat no-annual-fee card for earning points at Marriot properties1–3 Points per $1$0
- United Gateway CardA great no-annual-fee rewards card for people who fly United1 Mile per $1$0
- Citi Rewards+® CardAn excellent no-annual-fee rewards card with a 0% introductory APR offer1–2 Points per $1*$0
No-annual-fee travel credit cards are a great way to earn rewards without paying a fee. While they don't have the same level of benefits as cards with annual fees, you can earn a welcome bonus, receive rewards on your purchases and enjoy other perks. — Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com
How to Compare Travel Credit Cards & Intro Offers
There is no single best no-annual-fee travel credit card because just about every card from this segment comes with its share of pros and cons. As a result, you need to pay attention to your spending patterns and a few other aspects before making a selection.
Co-branded or not
If you favor using any particular group of hotels or airlines, you may benefit by getting a co-branded card that comes with airline/hotel-specific benefits. Some of the top no-annual-fee travel credit cards that fit this bill include the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.
Welcome offer
The best travel cards with no annual fees come with welcome offers, although these vary significantly. For example, the Amex Delta SkyMiles Blue Card comes with a welcome bonus of 10,000 miles that you may earn by spending $500 on purchases in the first three months. The Amex Hilton Honors Card, on the other hand, comes with a welcome offer of 80,000 Hilton Honors bonus points that you may earn by spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months. It offers an additional 50,000 points if you spend a total of $5,000 on purchases in the first six months.
Rewards rate
Whether you earn points or miles depends on the card you get. In addition, several cards from this segment offer higher points/miles rates on category-based spending. For instance, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card offers up to 14x points at Marriott properties and 2x points on all other purchases. The Citi Rewards+® Card, on the other hand, offers 2x points per $1 spent at supermarkets and gas stations on the first $6,000 you spend each year, and all other purchases come with 1x points.
Foreign transaction fees
Pay particular attention to this aspect if you plan to use your card outside of the U.S. The Citi Rewards+® Card and the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card charge a 3% foreign transaction fee on international purchases. The other cards we've selected do away with this fee completely.
APR
Travel rewards cards typically come with higher APRs when compared to cards with no rewards. If you plan to maintain a revolving balance in your account from one billing cycle to the next, you might be better off getting a card with a low APR.
Other benefits
The IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card offers a reward night when you redeem your points for a stay of four or more nights. With the United Gateway Card, you get 25% back on United in-flight purchases. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card lets you transfer your miles to any of over 15 partner loyalty programs. Other card-specific features and benefits may come in the form of purchase protection, extended warranty, airport lounge access and varying levels of travel insurance coverage.
Further Reading
About Rajiv Baniwal
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Rajiv Baniwal is a former finance writer at MoneyGeek, with more than 15 years of experience covering financial topics. His expertise includes mortgages, loans, credit cards, insurance and international money transfers.
Baniwal has a bachelor’s degree in art studies from Delhi University.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.