I love to travel with my family. My 3-year-old alone has been on over 26 flights! We love to explore the world together and experience life through domestic and international travel. (More on flights with a toddler here.) However, traveling as a family of 4 is expensive! Whether you’re lugging around lots of newborn gear or just booking seats for lots of bottoms, traveling inexpensively with kids isn’t easy. However, we’ve found that the best travel credit cards for families help tremendously with our travel expenses!
With these cards, you can earn cashback, rewards points, and airline miles when you spend at supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotels. You can then use your rewards to bring down the cost of your future trips. It’s one of the best travel hacks when you start traveling pretty frequently! So, for my post today, I am sharing my top travel credit cards for families:
12 Best Travel Credit Cards For Families
Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Visa Credit Card
We personally use the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards card and it has literally saved us thousands. They have a pretty low annual fee of $69 and you can curate points every time you make a travel-related purchase. I also love that they offer a generous sign-on bonus, and you only have to spend $1,000 to get it. (You’ll realize later that this is a big plus.)
It doesn’t have all the frills of some other cards on this list, but when you balance the low cost and practicality with the potential earnings and travel benefits, it’s almost perfect! I do wish they didn’t have that 3% foreign transaction fee because we travel internationally frequently. (Here’s more on international travel with an infant.) Other than that, it’s my most recommended card for family travel!
Pros
- 2x points on all Southwest purchases, partnered hotels, partnered rental car companies, partnered streaming services, internet, cable, phone, and public transit/ride-shares
- 1x points on everything else
- 3,000 anniversary bonus points cover most of the annual fee
- The first 2 checked bags are free
- 2 early bird check-ins per year
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Baggage delay insurance
- 25% back on certain in-flight purchases
- No fees
- No flight changes
- Purchase protection
Cons
- Doesn’t offer upgrades
- No extra earnings for certain spending categories (like groceries or gas)
- 3% foreign transaction fee
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Most of Capital One’s travel cards have a high annual fee, but this one is great for beginners and families because it offers a lower annual fee in exchange for slightly fewer perks. The star feature of the Capital One Venture card is the unlimited, flat-rate travel miles! That means this card earns points in a way that’s easy-to-understand and includes no maximum spending limit.
It’s a convenient card perfect for casual family travelers.
Pros
- 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- 5x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars
- Auto rental insurance
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Capital One Eno assistant
- Extra hotel benefits
- 2x miles per dollar on everything else
- Unlimited flat-rate travel miles on all purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees
Cons
- High annual fee
- Can’t pay your annual fee with travel credits or bonus miles
- Miles aren’t worth as much as others on this list
- Must spend $4,000 in 3 months to get sign-on offer
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the best travel rewards credit cards at the $95 annual fee price point! You can earn bonus points on almost every transaction. Also, the card includes travel protection and has no foreign transaction fees. The one downside is the somewhat inaccessible sign-on bonus. The potential point earnings are hefty, but within 3 months from account opening, you have to spend $4,000, which is a lot even for frequent travelers like us.
Pros
- 5x points on travel through the Chase network
- 5x points on Lyft
- 3x points on dining
- 3x points on streaming and online grocery
- 2x points on other travel
- 1x points on everything else
- 25% points value redemption boost on Chase travel
- No foreign transaction fees
- Anniversary bonus
- $50 of credits can be used for an annual fee
- Travel Insurance
- Trip delay reimbursement
- Baggage delay insurance
- Extra credits toward some rideshares and delivery options
Cons
- High annual fee
- Unimpressive sign-up bonus
- No sign-up APR benefits
American Express Gold Card
The American Express Gold Card is a popular credit card option that has some travel perks, but not as many as I prefer with my travel cards. It has a high annual fee and plenty of bonus rewards opportunities, but aside from hotel upgrades, baggage insurance, and no foreign transaction fees, the only other potential travel perks are up to $120 in annual dining credits and up to $120 in Uber credits. I’d say it’s probably not worth the high fee when you compare it to other cards on the list!
Pros
- 4x points on restaurants, UberEats, and grocery stores
- 3x points on flights booked with airlines or American Express
- 1x points on all other purchases
- Annual statement credit credits worth up to $340
- Complimentary hotel upgrades
- Baggage insurance
- No preset credit limit, it adapts to your purchases and payment history
- Up to $120 in annual dining credits
- Up to $120 in annual Uber credits
- Up to $100 in experience credits for The Hotel Collections
- Unique payment plans
- Included ShopRunner membership
Cons
- Super high $250 annual fee
- Can only use points on flights booked directly through airlines or American Express
- Unimpressive welcome offer with a high minimum purchase requirement
- No lounge access
- No trip cancellations
- Dining credits can only be used at 6 restaurants
Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card
This is a decent travel card if you’re already a Bank of America or Merrill customer and a Preferred Rewards member. You earn on all purchases and you have zero annual fees or foreign transaction fees…it doesn't even have interest for the first 15 months. Plus, the points are really flexible and can be used on pretty much any travel expense. However, it lacks travel-specific perks beyond points towards expenses.
Pros
- 1.5x points on all purchases
- No interest for 15 months
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fee
- Preferred Rewards
- BankAmeriDeals offers
- Museums On Us membership
- Visa Signature benefits
- Boost your rewards rate by up to 75% with Preferred Rewards
- Flexible points to cover most travel expenses
- Decent sign-on offer
Cons
- High minimum redemption points
- Must be a Preferred Rewards member to get many of the benefits
- Not many travel-specific benefits
- No lounge access
- No insurance
Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card
With this card, you definitely get what you pay for. It has a high annual fee of $550, but you get lots of luxury perks and benefits. Not only can you earn up to 10x points on purchases, but you get anniversary credits, Chase travel boosts, no foreign transaction fees, lounge access (you will appreciate this more than you think with kids), travel insurance, rideshare, and delivery credits, and even reimbursement for Global Entry or similar service. There’s a lot there, but, as I said, you pay for it with that annual fee. This is definitely one for a seasoned traveler!
Pros
- 10x points on hotel stays, car rentals, and Chase Dining
- 4x points on air travel
- 3x points on restaurants and general travel purchases
- 1x points on all other purchases
- High reward rates for travel and dining
- 50% point value boost when using Chase travel
- $300 travel credits for each anniversary
- No foreign transaction fees
- Lounge access
- Fee credits for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS
- Travel Insurance
- Trip delay reimbursement
- Credits for rideshares and delivery services
- Unique payment plan options
Cons
- Super high $550 annual fee, plus $75 per additional user
- Unimpressive sign-on bonus with high minimum purchase
- No sign-up APR offer
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Credit Card
This travel card has a catch. You have to be a small business owner in order to apply for it, so it won’t be for all of you. However, if you do have a business, this is a good choice for frequent travelers. I like the unique payment plan options, the travel insurance, the rideshare benefits, and the fact that it has no annual fee. What I don’t like is the unimpressive sign-on offer that requires $6,000 to be spent in the first 6 months to get the bonus. That’s a lot of travel!
Pros
- 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals
- 4x points on the first $150,000 in annual spending on travel expenses
- 2x points on dining, takeout, restaurant delivery, and cell phone services
- 1x point on everything else
- No annual fee for the first year
- Car rental collision damage insurance
- Lost luggage insurance
- Travel assistance services
- $25 credit for every 3 consecutive rideshares or taxi rides
- Lounge access
- Unique payment plan options
Cons
- Unimpressive welcome offer with a really high minimum purchase amount
- No sign-up APR offer
- Must own a small business to own this card
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
Here’s another card in that $100 price range for an annual fee. This is a branded card, so you’ll only really get benefits if you stay loyal to Delta. (We do Southwest always, which is why we chose the Southwest travel card.) You’ll love the in-flight purchase statement credits, the Delta flight discounts, the free insurance, the free checked bags, and a whole lot more about this card.
Pros
- The annual fee is easy to offset and free for the first year
- 2x miles on Delta purchases
- 2x miles on grocery stores and restaurants
- Decent sign-on offer
- $100 Delta flight credit each year (after spending $10,000 in one 12-month period)
- First checked bag free
- 15% off when using miles to book Delta flights
- Main cabin 1 priority boarding
- 20% statement credit on in-flight purchase
- Baggage Insurance
- Car rental loss and damage insurance
- Unique payment options
- Included ShopRunner membership
Cons
- No sign-up APR offer
- Lower reward redemption value
- No lounge access
- Doesn’t help you reach Delta elite status
United Club Infinite Card
If you’re a United family (a United Airlines family, that is) then this card could be beneficial for your air travel needs. It has a high annual fee, but you get free checked bags, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck reimbursement, cashback on in-flight purchases, and even a free United Club Membership, which is over $600 on its own and gives you lounge access. The big downside is all the perks are more flight-centered than travel-centered. You’ll only really have air travel perks with this card.
Pros
- Great welcome offer
- 4x miles on United purchases
- 2x miles on other travel purchases, dining, and food delivery
- 1x miles all other purchases
- Free checked bags (and 2 free for companions)
- 25% cashback on in-flight purchases
- Free United Club Membership (lounge access)
- Fee reimbursement for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS
Cons
- No sign-up APR offers
- Super high annual fee of $525
- Need very good credit to qualify
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Of course, I recommend the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Visa Credit Card primarily as a Southwest travel family, but I understand not everyone travels as much as we do! If your family takes a handful of trips a year via Southwest and you want rewards without fluff or high fees, this is the perfect travel card. It has a great welcome offer, and a low annual fee, including travel insurance, free checked bags, and more! However, it won’t get you upgrades, elite status, fee-free foreign transactions, or bonuses on everyday purchases.
Pros
- 2x points on Southwest purchases
- 1x points on all purchases
- Great introductory offer
- Great anniversary bonus
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Baggage delay insurance
- 25% back on in-flight purchases
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In upgrades each year
- The first 2 checked bags free
- No fees or flight changes
- Purchase protection
Cons
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- No sign-on APR offer
- Not good for upgrades
- Not good for reaching elite status
- No bonus for everyday purchase categories like groceries, gas, or dining
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Just like a specific airline’s credit card will make you loyal to that one brand, a specific hotel credit card will do the same! The IHG One Reward Premier card offers quite a few hotel perks like free additional nights, extra points on travel expenses, and a good sign-on offer. Where the card needs work is with the points redemption process. You need a lot more points for minimum redemption on IHG than most other cards on this list. Plus, it can only be used for hotels.
Pros
- Good sign-on offer
- Automatically level up to elite status
- Up to 25x points at IHG venues
- 2x points on gas, restaurants, and groceries
- 1x points on everything else
- Get 4th night free
- No foreign transaction fee
- Good anniversary reward
- Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
Cons
- Redeeming points is only worthwhile at IHG hotels
- Few travel rewards outside of hotels
- No sign-on APR offer
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
Here’s one last branded card that’s definitely worth it. This Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card delivers not just benefits on hotel stays, but all types of travel. You can earn bonus points on pretty much any travel-related purchase (except gas and groceries) and apply those points to your statement balance. I love the free nights, fee-free foreign transaction fees, and the generous anniversary gift.
Pros
- 14x points on Hilton purchases
- 7x points on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex
- 7x points at domestic restaurants
- 7x points on airlines and rental cars
- 3x points on every other purchase
- Good welcome bonus
- $500 in credits as an anniversary gift
- Up to $250 credits for air travel a year
- Get 5th night free
- No foreign transaction fees
- 1 or 2 free weekends a year
- Added benefits when you reach Diamond status
Cons
- Some property and date limitations
- No extra bonuses on gas or groceries
- Lower value points
- Super high annual fee of $450
- No sign-on APR offer
Travel credit cards can make trips more affordable for your family!
Traveling is expensive, but with any of these credit cards, you should be able to get fantastic travel perks that’ll make your trips more cost-effective. For more travel advice, make sure to head over to my blog! As I mentioned, going on trips with my family is my most treasured pastime. I hope these cards make more vacations possible in the near future. Bon voyage!
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