The Best Travel Credit Cards for 2022

Last updated on February 22nd, 2023

People travel for many reasons, so finding the ideal travel rewards credit card can be challenging. With so many options to choose from and endless variables, it can be tough to separate the best from the rest. Never fear, here are our selections for the best travel credit cards of 2022:

At a Glance

Chase Sapphire Reserve®	Earn 5X on flights through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 10X on hotels and car rentals through Ultimate Rewards, 10X on Chase Dining, 3X on all other travel purchases, 3X on dining, and 1X on all other purchases	Learn More
The Platinum Card® from American Express	Earn 5X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines of Amex Travel, 5X on prepaid hotels booked thorugh AmexTravel.com, and 1X on all other purchases	Learn More
Sam’s Club® Mastercard®	Earn 5% cash back on gas (on first $6,000 per year, then 1%), 3% back on Sam's purchases, dining, and takeout, and 1% back on all other purchases.
Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card	Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores	Learn More
Mastercard® Black Card™	Earn 5% cash back on gas (on first $6,000 per year, then 1%), 3% back on Sam's purchases, dining, and takeout, and 1% back on all other purchases.

The Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards of 2022

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

$300 Annual Travel Credit

10X Points with Chase Dining
5X Points on Chase Travel

☆ Earn 3X on all other travel

☆ Earn 3X on all other dining

☆ No Foreign Transaction Fee

☆ $550 Annual Fee

Terms & Conditions

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, luxury and travel rewards come together seamlessly. Chase’s flagship credit card features a steep $550 annual fee (with another $75/year for each authorized user) – but packs plenty of bang for that buck.

Cardmembers earn 5X Ultimate Rewards points on air travel and 10X points on hotels and car rentals when booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel portal (immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually, more on that soon). They also earn 3X UR points on other travel purchases and dining, plus 1X on all other purchases.

If the points with the Sapphire Reserve are tasty, the 50% more value when using points for travel booked through the Chase travel portal is the icing on the cake. Even better, cardmembers enjoy $300 in annual travel credits, Priority Pass Select airport lounge access, and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®.

Other features of the Chase Sapphire Reserve include a complimentary DashPass membership, Visa Infinite concierge, and 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Get Over $1,500 in Value

1X Points on all other purchases
4X Points at U.S. supermarkets

☆ $200 Uber Cash

☆ $1,500 in statement credits

☆ Global Lounge access

☆ $695 Annual Fee

Terms & Conditions

Where the Sapphire Reserve emphasizes points, the Platinum Card® from American Express packs a punch with a dizzying array of statement credits. This exclusive rewards card offers premium travel rewards and a host of additional perks for the savvy voyager.

If you’re looking to upgrade your trip from start to finish, The Platinum Card won’t disappoint. The card provides Priority Pass Select access (like the Sapphire) – but tacks on Centurion Club access via the American Express Global Lounge Collection. Travelers also enjoy a $100 credit for Global Entry, or an $85 credit for TSA Pre✓® (whichever is charged to the card account first), and a $189 CLEAR statement credit. CLEAR® security fast pass.

Beyond airport perks, the Platinum Card’s travel and everyday statement credits provide over $1,500 in annual value. These credits include:

$200 airline incidentals credit for one airline of your choosing
$200 hotel credit for eligible stays in the Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection portfolios
$15/month in Uber Cash (and $20 in December)
$25/month Equinox credit
$12.95 Walmart+ membership rebate (when using the Platinum Card as the payment method)
$300 SoulCycle credit
$20 digital media/streaming credit
$100 Saks Fifth Avenue credits

Sam's Club® Mastercard®

Doubles As Your Membership Card

Earn 5% cash back on gas anywhere Mastercard is accepted (on first $6,000 per year, then 1%)
Earn 3% cash back on dining and takeout

☆ No Annual Fee

☆ Additonal Cash Back w/ Sam's Plus Membership

☆ No Foreign Transaction Fees

Read Review

Terms & Conditions

The Sam’s Club® Mastercard® won’t get you lounge access to upgraded suites at exclusive hotels. But if you are hitting the road on your travels, it can save you big money. The Sam’s Club® Mastercard® earns 5% cash back on gas station purchases anywhere Mastercard is accepted (on the first $6,000 per year, then 1% back after that). These impressive rewards make it one of the premier gas rewards credit cards on the market today.

The card also earns 3% cash back on wholesale club purchases and dining, making it ideal for pitstops on the journey. And suppose you really need to stock up before the trip. In that case, Sam’s Mastercard also earns accelerated cash back for Plus members on Sam’s Club purchases. The card earns 3% back on Sam’s Club purchases for Plus members, with regular members earning 1% back on Sam’s Club purchases. That 3% back takes the form of the 1% all Sam’s Club members earn on purchases and the additional 2% Plus members earn on qualifying in-club and Pickup purchases. All other purchases with the card earn 1% back wherever Mastercard is accepted worldwide.

Other notable features of the Sam’s Mastercard include no foreign transaction fees, Mastercard Zero Fraud Liability protection, free shipping at Sam’s Club, early shopping hours in-store, prescription savings, and more. The card also doubles as the accountholder’s Sam’s Club membership card.

Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Card

Cash Back On Dining & Entertainment

4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming service
3% cash back at grocery stores

☆ New Cardmember Bonus Cash

☆ Capital One Dining Access

☆ No Foreign Transaction Fee

☆ $95 Annual Fee

Terms & Conditions

Vacations and business trips aren’t just about the journey. A great travel credit card helps you save money at your final destination – wherever that may be. The Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card is ideally-suited for these tasks thanks to its generous cash back rewards.

The Savor earns an unlimited 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services like Apple TV, Hulu, Spotify, and more. Not only that, but the card also earns 3% back at grocery stores and 1% back on all other eligible purchases.

The entertainment features with the Savor can also help you save if taking in a concert or sporting event on your travels. The card earns a huge 8% cash back on tickets through Vivid Seats, helping you to pay down the cost of your journey – or to start planning your next escape!

Mastercard® Black Card™

Patented Card Construction and 24/7 Luxury Card Concierge

2% value for airfare redemptions with no blackout dates or seat restrictions.
1.5% value for cash back redemptions
$4995 annual fee

☆ 22 Gram PVD-Coated Card Design

☆ Up to $100 Airline Credit Each Year

☆ Priority Pass™ Select

☆ 24/7 Luxury Concierge Access

Read Review

Terms & Conditions

The Mastercard® Black Card™ offers the best luxury benefits for a travel card at a lower price point. Luxury Card’s Black Card™ also features an annual fee significantly lower than the Sapphire Reserve and the Amex Platinum ($495 for the Black Card, vs. $695 for Amex and $550 for Chase).

Despite that lower price point, the Black Card packs a serious punch. The list of luxury perks is astonishing, including Priority Pass lounge access, airline credits, complimentary luxury gifts from leading brands, access to the Luxury Hotel Collection, no foreign transaction fees, and more. That doesn’t even mention the card’s award-winning Luxury Concierge service. All told, the card offers over $500 in hotel savings and credits – per stay.

Rewards with the Mastercard Black Card aren’t spectacular, but they provide solid value. The card provides 2% back in value for airline redemptions and 1.5% for cash back redemptions, making it a decent airline rewards card with exceptional perks.