My 5 top travel credit cards — and how they elevate my trips

I caught the travel bug early when my parents moved our family from Sydney to Seattle for a year when I was 10. I remember being fascinated by how far we’d traveled — and how long I’d sat in economy class to get there.

My love of travel, inspired partly by periods studying and working abroad in Japan, Mexico and Spain, only grew stronger over the years. So did the number of hours I spent wedged into cramped airplane seats.

That changed when I discovered the world of points and miles about a decade ago.

Since then, points and miles have taken me from hostel bunk beds and back-row middle seats to flying in first class across the Atlantic and soaking in an infinity pool at a luxury resort overlooking the Omani desert.

That’s largely thanks to credit cards — the source of about six out of every 10 frequent flyer points and miles earned in the U.S., according to industry trade organization Airlines for America.

Choosing the right travel rewards credit card — or combination of cards — has been key to elevating my travels. These are my top five travel credit cards and why I keep them in my wallet.

American Express Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum Card® has been a staple in my wallet for many years. Although it has the highest annual fee of any card on this list at $895 (see rates and fees), you can get more than enough value from it if you maximize the card’s credits and benefits.

For me, the biggest reason to keep this card is lounge access.

My favorite thing during a long layover? A hot shower in an airport lounge. There’s something incredibly luxurious about stepping off a red-eye and into a spotless private shower suite stocked with fluffy towels and skin care products.

Given how frequently I pass through Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), I appreciate having access to Centurion Lounges. I get access regardless of the airline or class I’m traveling that day.

I also love earning American Express Membership Rewards points because Amex frequently offers transfer bonuses to loyalty partners. Two of my favorites are Air Canada Aeroplan and Qatar Airways Privilege Club, the latter of which I’ve used to book Qsuite flights to visit family in Australia.

Learn more in our full review of the American Express Platinum.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

While the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) is an excellent starter travel card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) is the card I reach for most often while traveling.

Dining is one of my biggest spending categories, so I love earning 3 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide. I also use the card to book flights directly with airlines to earn elevated rewards and take advantage of the card’s excellent travel protections.

Those protections alone have saved me hundreds of dollars.

Last year, EasyJet damaged my checked bag on a flight from Portugal to the Czech Republic. The Sapphire Reserve reimbursed me almost $200 for the replacement cost, turning a frustrating situation into a reminder of why strong travel protections matter.

I also regularly transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt for hotel stays. While Hyatt recently devalued parts of its award chart, I still find the program offers some of the best hotel redemption values available.

The Sapphire Reserve’s $300 annual travel credit is another reason why this card stays in my wallet. Between flights, trains, ride-hailing services and hotels, I usually use the full credit within the first month each anniversary year.

This card also includes Priority Pass lounge access, which has come in handy in places as far-flung as Bolivia, Namibia and Vietnam.

Learn more in our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium travel card I recommend most often to friends.

Its $395 annual fee is significantly lower than many competing premium cards, and it’s relatively easy to offset through the card’s benefits. Not to mention, you receive a $300 annual travel credit to use through Capital One Travel, plus 10,000 anniversary miles every year you keep the card.

I also like the simplicity of earning at least 2 miles per dollar spent on almost everything I buy.

Last year, I started getting more value from Capital One’s hotel transfer partners, too.

I transferred miles to Wyndham Rewards for a stay during Carnival in Barranquilla, Colombia, when hotel prices were surging, and I also redeemed Choice Privileges points for a three-night stay in Helsinki while attending a Kylie Minogue concert.

I still primarily use transferable points and miles for flights, but these hotel sweet spots showed me how valuable Capital One miles can be for accommodations, too.

Learn more in our full review of the Capital One Venture X.

Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite credit card

The newest addition to my wallet is the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card — and it has quickly become one of my most used cards abroad.

While I still use my Sapphire Reserve for dining purchases overseas, the Summit earns 3 Atmos Rewards points per dollar spent on all foreign transactions. That makes it my go-to card for everyday spending internationally.

Recently, Austrian Airlines left my checked bag behind for three days while I was traveling to Eurovision in Vienna. I used this card for all the replacement purchases I needed while waiting for my luggage to arrive — clothes and essential toiletries — all charged in euros and thus earning 3 points per dollar spent.

I especially like redeeming Atmos Rewards points for premium cabin flights on American Airlines, Finnair and Iberia to and from Europe. I also get solid value redeeming points for short-haul Iberia flights around Spain and Europe.

Learn more in our full review of the Atmos Rewards Summit.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

My favorite hotel credit card is the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.

The Aspire Card automatically grants Diamond status in the Hilton Honors program, which regularly gets me complimentary breakfast abroad (U.S. properties offer a less valuable food-and-beverage credit), executive lounge access and room upgrades during international trips.

At a recent stay at the Hilton Vienna Park, the executive lounge happy hour snacks were substantial enough to replace dinner entirely.

I’ve also received thoughtful welcome amenities ranging from chocolates to fruit platters and bottles of port wine.

One of my favorite perks is the annual free night reward, which can be redeemed at nearly any Hilton property worldwide.

Last summer, I used mine at an abbey-turned-hotel outside Galway, Ireland — a memorable stay with ivy-covered stone walls, a roaring fireplace and a nightly cash rate north of $500.

Learn more in our full review of the Hilton Aspire.

Bottom line

Points and miles have completely transformed the way I travel.

What once felt financially out of reach — lie-flat business-class seats, luxury hotels and spontaneous international trips — now feels genuinely attainable through the right credit card strategy.

I may juggle over 25 credit cards, but these five consistently pull the most weight. They haven’t just changed how I travel — they’ve given me more freedom, flexibility and fun. And that’s the power of credit cards, points and miles.

With the right card strategy, travel stops being a cost — and feels more like a reward.

Related: Best travel credit cards

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.