Best credit card for family travel. A guide to your financial literacy
Family budgets are bursting at the seams when it comes to travelling together, weekends or holidays. Family expenses increase dramatically with the need for extra seats on the plane, hotel beds and snacks during the journey. Reducing your trips and postponing your next holiday is a road to nowhere. There is a sure and proven solution - choose a suitable credit card that will help you not only reduce the cost of your family's holiday, but also earn money for the next one. We'll tell you in detail about all the travel credit card bonuses so that you can choose the best one for you. Your best family credit card is already waiting for you on the list to start saving and earning.
Applying for several cards can also help you save money, but you shouldn't go for more than that without a decent financial education. Before making a choice, you should be confident in your abilities or seek the advice of a bank consultant to manage your financial affairs as profitably as possible. The best credit card for a family trip will bring you joy and opportunities if used correctly.
Let's get acquainted with the options for profitable credit cards for travelling
Take a closer look, you may already be the owner of one of the cards, you just don't know all the functions and features of your plastic yet.
14 credit card options that may already be in your pocket
Name |
Win at |
Annual levy |
Gifts |
Bonuses of use |
cash back |
no |
Bonus 200 in exchange for $500 spent (first 3 months) |
5% - various categories per quarter 3% - pharmacies and restaurants |
|
cash back |
no |
no |
2% for any purchase |
|
family trip |
$95 |
60,000 points in exchange for 4 000 spent (first 3 months) |
Dining and shopping points increased by 3 times. Availability of Chase Ultimate Rewards Availability of travel insurance |
|
family trip |
$95 |
75,000 miles in exchange for 4 000 $ (first 3 months) |
2 miles on purchases Availability Capital One Travel Access to the airport lounge |
|
family trip |
$695 |
80,000 points in exchange for the money spent 6 000 (six months) |
Many travel benefits Loan reports once a month and for a year Airport lounges |
|
online shopping |
opening an account $125 no annual fee |
Amazon gift card for $150 5% cashback (up to $2500, first 3 months)
|
5% on Amazon and Whole Foods Market 2% - restaurants, petrol stations, pharmacies |
|
online shopping |
no |
200 credit in exchange for $2,000 spent (six months) |
3% cashback on purchases in the network, petrol stations, shops Monthly credit for Disney Bundle and Home Chef |
|
Gas and grocery stores |
$250 |
60,000 points in exchange for the money spent 4 000 $ (six months) |
4 points - restaurants and supermarkets in the USA Every year $ 120 credit for meals Uber Cash up to $120 per year |
|
Gas and grocery stores |
1 year - no further $95 |
$250 credit in exchange for $3,000 spent (six months) |
6 % - US supermarkets 3 % - petrol stations |
|
Gas and grocery stores |
$95 |
60,000 points in exchange for $4,000 spent (first 3 months) 10 points for every $ (excluding air travel) - services via the Citi Travel portal |
3 points - petrol stations, supermarkets, restaurants, airline tickets Accessibility of the portal Citi ThankYou portal |
|
Gas and grocery stores |
no |
no |
4 % cashback - petrol, electric car charging 3 % cashback restaurants and travel purchases |
|
Everyday expenses |
no |
1.5 % cashback on purchases up to $300 (per year) |
3% - restaurants and pharmacies |
|
Food |
no |
one-time $200 for $1,000 spent (first 3 months) |
10% cashback on Uber and Uber Eats 3% - grocery stores (Walmart and Target) and services |
|
Food |
$49 |
300$ in exchange for the spent 1000$ (first 3 months) |
2 per cent in Disney Rewards dollars on purchases at Disney stores, restaurants, gas stations, and company stores 5 per cent - directly on purchases at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or ESPNPlus.com |
A few tips after your eyes have run away:
- Gifts during registration of any of the cards can constantly change, it is worth checking the relevance of the figures again if more than a year has passed since the review
- not always the absence of an annual fee means the best travel credit card for families. Look for cashback and an extended list of covered items.
- If you need a credit card specifically for travelling with your family, check whether your card includes the following items:
- access to airport lounges
- bonuses from major hotel chains
- gift free nights in hotels
- travel insurance
- car hire insurance
- credits for travel or business trip statements
- learn the system of withdrawing and paying with bonuses or miles. It should be as simple and straightforward as possible for you to manage your funds on the card
- make sure the card serves your airport or frequent destinations to get the most out of the best credit cards for earning travel points
Let's take a closer look at the best credit cards for family travel
Think about which category of credit card rewards you'd like to be in:
- fast cashback
- accumulation of points or miles with subsequent redemption
- lucrative bonuses for online purchases
- increase bonuses for monthly expenses on fuel and groceries
Have you made up your mind? Then let's consider any category you choose.
Credit cards for quick refund and use of funds
With these cards, you will receive monthly or accumulated annual cashback and quickly withdraw it to your main account.
1 Chase Freedom Flex
A very good card option, with no annual fee and 5% cash back on many categories.
Pros:
- $200 sign-up bonus
- no annual fee
- 15 months of interest-free balance transfer and purchases (later the rate is from 20.24% to 28.99%)
- mobile device insurance
- you can combine points
Cons:
- 3% fee on foreign transfers in US dollars
What to consider:
- you will receive $200 only if you spend $500 within 3 months
- 5% cashback on amounts up to $1,500. There will be new categories every quarter. Keep track of
- 5 % cash back on travel when you use the Chase Ultimate Rewards programme
- 3% cash back on transactions in pharmacies, restaurants, food delivery, and other categories 1% cash back
- Your bonuses do not burn out, but accumulate and you can use all the accumulated funds at any time
- after 15 months, the cashback rate will be set
Many families consider the Chase Freedom Flex to be the best credit card option to improve their family budget with cashback.
2 Citi dual payment card
This card is especially good for those who like to make frequent small purchases. And although the card does not have a bonus when issued, it allows you to earn money in almost all categories. And recently, it has become possible to earn Citi ThankYou points when using a dual Citi payment card.
Pros:
- 2% per dollar spent with no limit
- flexible loan repayment system
- no annual fee
Cons:
- no bonus categories
- 3% fee for foreign transfers
- no travel benefits
What to consider:
- 1 % you get for the purchase and 1 % for paying for the purchase. Check if you have the appropriate purchase balance
- refunds are made with a bona fide minimum credit top-up
- interest-free balance transfer is given only for 18 months (after 18.99% to 28.99%)
- cashback is not imposed on balance transfers after 18 months without interest
- there is a fee for the transfer of the initial balance (minimum $5). It will be 3% for the first 4 months and then increase to 5%.
The Double Cash card is a very simple choice for those who want to spend without hesitation and get a return.
The best credit card for travel rewards
When travelling as a family, it's nice to share expenses, and some are best just to get rid of. The cards we'll look at below are a selection of the best cards for earning points when travelling and the best credit cards for collecting travel points.
Many of them have nice bonuses that will help you get rid of some of the extra costs on your holiday.
3 Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Although the card has an annual fee, it can be quite beneficial for your spending. The generous welcome offer of 60,000 points ($1,200) is a great start to a long relationship. The wide coverage of categories (travel, restaurants, groceries, network) allows you to earn bonus points quickly and actively. And travel insurance and the first car rental will ease your travel expenses.
Pros:
- 5x point increase when you use the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
- 5x point increase when paying for purchases at Peloton (over $250)
- 5x point increase for Lyft transactions
- 3x points for payments in a restaurant, online or streaming services
- 2 times more points when travelling around the world
- 50 $ annual credit for hotel services when booking through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
- six months of using Instacart + up to $ 15 in statements every quarter
- good insurance for both travel and car rental services
- 10 % annual additional point bonus every year
- foreign transfers without commissions
- In cooperation with United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt, points transfer is equivalent to
- 2 years of Spot Club Platinum status with The Parking Spot without payment and 20% on the first order
Cons:
- $95 annual fee
- no access to airport lounges or coverage for luxury hotels
What to consider:
- the first bonus points will only be awarded if you spend $4000 in the first 3 months
- you will be able to use the opportunity to discount your trip by 5 times through the Chase Ultimate Rewards programme
- you get favourable discounts on air tickets and hotel accommodation, car rental only if you use Chase Ultimate Rewards
- very favourable insurance bonuses in case of an unsuccessful or interrupted trip, in case of damage to the rented car, loss of luggage and many other things.
If you're already thinking about how to pay for your holiday next summer, this card is definitely for you. You will have a whole year to accumulate points in your everyday habits, which you can later use when buying airline tickets or other transport partners of the Chase Ultimat Revards card.
4 Capital One Venture Rewards credit card
When travelling by car, it's handy to have a card that earns extra miles and has convenient parking bonuses. The card has the most attractive welcome offer and a low annual fee. Very flexible terms on credit repayment and a high bonus.
Pros:
- 75,000 welcome miles
- 5 additional miles for every dollar spent when you book a hotel room or rent a vehicle with Capital One Travel
- 2 miles for any expenses
- 2 visits to Capital One or Plaza Premium lounges each year
- obtaining a credit from Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- the opportunity to work with Capital One partners under the bonus programme
Cons:
- $ 95 annual fee
- restrictions on premium benefits
What to consider:
- you can get 75,000 miles only if you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months
- increase your miles by 2 times daily with any purchase
- the card is not subject to restrictions on the amount of miles, and they do not burn out
- the possibility of a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, about $ 100
- visit Capital One lounges - 2 times a year or Plaza Premium - more than 100 times using partner lounges
- 5x mileage increase when booking or shopping through Capital One Travel
- you can redeem your miles for travel purchases and use them for your next holiday when you book through Capital One
- you can transfer your miles to more than 15 loyalty programmes. Check the list at checkout
So, this is the best travel rewards credit card option for you if you want to keep your control over the rewards process as low as possible and see as many miles as possible on your account.
5 Platinum card from American Express
Credit cards that offer elite travel rewards in all their plastic interpretations. You get the best of everything from lounges to premium customer status. The annual fee is quite high, but there are so many benefits: from luxury hotels to a large amount of credit. Make sure your credit history is clean and go for the best credit card to earn travel points.
Pros:
- 80,000 miles welcome bonus
- 1400 open lounge doors for you, all over the globe
- 5 points for every $ when you buy airline tickets with American Express Travel
- 1$ = 5 points when booking hotels with American Express Travel
- Credit statements annually and quarterly at checkout (airline credit, Uber Cash, Saks Fifth Avenue, streaming credit, hotel stay credit, Walmart+, CLEAR and Equinox)
- explicit TSA check or Global Entry credit option
- Ability to book elite hotels at American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
- the possibility of using the international program of the airline Amex
- not subject to foreign transfer fees
Cons:
- $695 annual fee
- credit from the flight company will not pay for the cost of tickets (only unplanned expenses (baggage check-in)
What to consider:
- $4,000 (for six months) = 80,000 points
- Membership Rewards points are multiplied by 5 when booking flights and hotels with American Express Travel
- $200 annual statement credit for booking Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel
- $240 credit for digital entertainment. Register with: Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM or The Wall Street Journal - $20 drips into your account every month
- bonuses and credit from Walmart+ in the region of $155
- insure yourself against unforeseen fees of one airline. Specify the required company and receive $200 per year on your statement.
- Uber Cash will give you up to $200 in savings if your card opens a VIP status for you
- credits for subscriptions and memberships. Find out the list of companies
- use the CLEAR Plus security system at airports at least 45 times and charge $189 annually (don't forget to renew your membership automatically with a credit card)
And believe me, this is not the whole list of privileges of the best credit card for earning money on travel that this type of plastic gives you.
6 Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
Shopping online has become a daily activity and consumes the lion's share of the budget. That's why many platforms offer nice bonuses and cashback to attract more customers. With the Visa Amazon Prime Rewards card, consumers of platforms such as Amazon.com and Whole Foods can make their regular shopping much more enjoyable and cost-effective by receiving lucrative bonuses and cashback.
Pros:
- no annual fees
- 5% cashback on purchases on Amazon.com and Whole Foods
- 2% cashback on restaurants, petrol stations, and pharmacies
- 1% refund on other categories
- 20% cashback on product and category rotation on Amazon.com
- no commission on foreign transfers
- loyalty in repayment
- guarantees and protection for purchases
Cons:
- mandatory membership in Amazon Prime
What to consider:
- there is a fee for obtaining a membership
- to benefit, you need to transfer as many of your payments as possible through the platforms.
- you can get 1% cashback on utility bills
Families who regularly use Amazon.com and Whole Foods will receive greater cashback and savings when you sign up for an Amazon.com and Whole Foods membership and card. Saving money on everyday purchases is a great start to funding your holiday.
7 Blue Cash Everyday card from American Express
Another great offer for saving on everyday purchases while in the US. As the card and its dividends are only valid in the US, it will help you save money for travelling abroad and holidays in the US.
Pros:
- no annual fee (for a period of 15 months)
- 3% cashback is limited to no more than $6,000 per year, then 1% (supermarkets and petrol stations)
- credit from Disney Bundle (monthly)
- Home Chef credit (monthly)
- welcome offer of $200
Cons:
- cashback can only be used as a loan statement
- foreign transfers have a commission of 2.7% after conversion
What to consider:
- $ 200 welcome offer is issued only if you have spent $2 000 from the card in six months
- balance transfer costs are refundable and not subject to interest for 15 months. Further 18.99% - 29.99%.
- 3% cashback for a limited amount ($6 000)
- monthly $7 cashback when using the Blue Cash Everyday Card to pay for a Disney Bundle subscription ($12.99)
This type of plastic is competitive with others due to the absence of annual fees and 3% cashback. It's a good option for saving your family's daily expenses.
Best family credit cards for cashback at petrol stations and grocery shopping
Travel with pleasure, knowing that your expenses will be partially returned to you, and some accumulated bonuses will completely cover unpleasant expenses.
8 American Express Gold Card
Meals play a major role in our wallets, so saving money on food without sacrificing quality or quantity is a great business deal with the American Express Gold Card, which has one of the best airline credit card rewards programmes.
Dining in a restaurant and grocery shopping will become 4 times more frequent and enjoyable, with points to redeem for your next purchase.
Pros:
- 4 points for spending $1 in restaurants and when buying or delivering food (limited annual amount up to $25,000), then $1 = 1 point
- 3 points for air tickets purchased from Amex Travel
- get up to $10 monthly when you use your Amex Gold card at: Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and most Shake Shack
- Up to $10 monthly on Uber Cash for use of Uber services
- no foreign transfer fees
- availability of Amex hotels
- availability of American Express partners
- 60,000 points welcome offer
Cons:
- $250 annual fee
- limited annual amount at 3%
With the American Express Gold Card, your annual savings can be a great way to stay in budget and expand your options. It's the best travel credit card to earn points.
9 Blue Cash Preferred card from American Express
The Blue Cash Preferred card from American Express gives you the opportunity to get the most out of your spending in the US. The list of qualifying cashback niches includes a wide range of everyday expenses, including public transport, shopping and petrol stations. Want to get up to 6% back, consider this lucrative plastic. One of the best credit cards for your future travels.
Pros:
- 6% cashback for payments at US supermarkets
- 6% refund on US subscriptions
- 3% gas stations and public transport
- 1% other purchases
- welcome offer $250
Cons:
- after 12 months, the annual fee will be $95
- foreign transfers with a commission of 2.7%
What to consider:
- to get $ 250 you need to spend $ 3 000 within six months
- consider changes in the annual fee after the end of the free year
- make purchase plans for free in the first year, then 1.33%
- balance transfer without payment, only in the first year, then up to 29.99%
- 6% on a limited amount per year up to $6,000, then 1% per year
- bonus dollars are used as a loan statement
A favourable offer for families whose grocery basket has increased dramatically.
10 Citi Premier Card
Fly more often and with nice bonuses with the Citi Premier card. Earn ThankYou points for restaurants, petrol stations, grocery stores, airline tickets and hotel stays.
Pros:
- A 3x increase in your points for supermarket, petrol station, airline ticket and hotel categories
- Ability to transfer bonuses to partners
- Receive a hotel credit for a year
- no fee for foreign transfers
- welcome offer of 60,000 points
- no foreign transfer fee
Cons:
$95 annual fee
What to consider:
- 60,000 points gift, only in exchange for spending $ 4,000 in the first 3 months
- 1$ = 3 points at petrol stations, hotels, pharmacies, restaurants and supermarkets
- 1$ = 1 point for other categories
- the welcome offer can be changed to a $600 gift card
- there is no limit to the number of points earned
A good cashback on the card will be a great start to family trips that do not require large financial outlays.
11 Visa Costco Anywhere card from Citi
This offer will appeal to drivers who prefer Costco. With a membership and significant monthly expenses at petrol stations, the opportunity to earn up to 4% back is very attractive. And the fact that there are no annual fees on the card for 12 months is another bonus.
Pros:
- no annual fee
- 4% cashback on petrol and electric car charging
- 3% cashback for payments in restaurants and tourist categories
- 2% cashback for other Costco and Costco.com categories
- 1% other categories
- no commission for foreign transactions
- gift annual certificate - redeemable for cash, as well as goods from the Costco warehouse
Cons:
- mandatory membership
What you need to remember:
- 4% on a limited amount up to $7,000, then 1%
- membership can have a one-time or annual fee
If you have a Costco membership and haven't yet applied for this card, then you simply weren't aware of its existence. Now you have no reason not to.
The best family credit card for every day
12 Freedom without restrictions
Easy to use and has an additional cashback of 1.5%. The Freedom Unlimited card has a wide range of bonus categories, including travel, and convenient payment with accumulated bonuses.
Pros:
- no annual fee for 15 months
- 5% cashback on travel with the Chase Ultimate Rewards programme
- 3% cashback on purchases in restaurants and pharmacies
- 1.5% other categories
- points are combined
Cons:
- annual fee after 15 months
- 3% fee for foreign transfers
What to consider:
- 1.5% bonus you will receive, on purchases not exceeding $ 300 (for an amount not exceeding $ 20,000 per year)
- you can get cashback for any amount
- to receive cashback, you can use both a credit statement and a direct deposit
- bonuses do not burn out
- after 15 months, the annual fee will be up to 28.99%.
A very profitable card for the family budget, daily expenses and your upcoming joint holidays.
The best family credit cards for cashback from restaurant bills and entertainment payments
With kids and a growing family, entertainment expenses become a weekly, monthly, and year-round occurrence. So why not save on entertainment without cutting back? Here are two of the best options.
13 Capital One SavorOne Rewards Credit Card
An offer that's hard to pass up when you have big spending sprees on fun and restaurants.
Pros:
- no annual fee for 15 months
- 10% cashback on Uber and Ubereats, no payment credits from Uber One
- 8% cashback on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- 5% cashback on hotel stays, car rentals through Capital One Travel
- 3% cashback for bills in restaurants, attractions, supermarkets (except Walmart and Target)
- 1% other categories
- no fee for foreign transfers
- welcome offer of $200
Cons:
- cash back only
What to consider:
- $200, in exchange for $1,000 spent in the first 3 months
- earn without restrictions
- after 15 months, the annual fee will be up to 29.99%.
It can be a nice addition to your trip and allow you to stay an extra day on holiday or rent a vehicle at a good price.
14 Disney Premier Visa card
Disney can become closer and more profitable with the proposed type of plastic.
With a small annual fee, the Disney Premier Visa card will do a great job of reducing costs and increasing opportunities.
Pros:
- $300 welcome offer
- 2% on purchases in Disney stores, supermarkets, restaurants, petrol stations
- some holiday packages with a 0% interest rate (six months)
- up to 10% on some products at shopDisney.com
- 5% cashback for purchases on DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or ESPNPlus.com
- 1% for all other categories
- exchange of bonuses for a credit statement for air travel
Cons:
- 3% foreign transfer fee
- annual fee of $ 49
What to consider:
- a welcome offer of $ 300 is credited after spending $ 1,000 on the card (for the first 3 months)
- cashback is beneficial for Disney stores
The Disney Premier Visa card allows you to earn Disney dollars quickly and have more fun. It is now easier, cheaper, and sometimes even free to fulfil the dream of all children: to get to know the world of Disney.