Autumn is the best season for traveling. It might be worth getting a new credit card, especially if you’re thinking about traveling to see the colorful fall foliage, for a soccer game weekend, or for an upcoming holiday trip.
The best credit cards for fall travel can help you earn cash back on gas for road trips, book cheaper flights and hotels, and turn everyday expenses into travel rewards points. If you’re willing to pay the annual fee, some premium travel cards may even come with some great perks.
Let’s take a look at some of the best travel credit cards for three types of travelers in fall 2024.
1. Easy-to-use credit cards for road trippers
If you’re planning a road trip in the fall of 2024, you may want a credit card that lets you earn rewards on gas, rental cars, hotels, and restaurant meals. The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is perfect for all your road trip spending goals and has a $0 annual fee.
Here’s why the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is the perfect way to pay for your next road trip. Earn unlimited 3x points on:
Travel (including hotels, flights, rental cars) Gas stations and EV charging stations Restaurants Transportation (including ride-hailing apps, parking, subways, etc.)
That’s not all. This card also lets you earn unlimited 3x points on phone plans and streaming services. Beyond these generous bonus categories, you can also earn 1x points on other purchases.
The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card also comes with an easy-to-earn welcome offer. Earn 20,000 bonus points (equivalent to $200 cash back) after you spend $1,000 within the first three months of opening your credit card account.
Click here to learn more and apply for the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ card — see how this card can help pay for your next road trip.
2. Credit cards that can be used for additional airline, hotel, and travel expenses.
If you’re planning to book flights and stay in a hotel for your next trip, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card can significantly increase your travel rewards earnings. When you use this card’s reward points to book travel through Chase, you’ll increase the value of your points by 25%. So 10,000 points equals $125 in travel.
You can also earn extra points when you pay for all your flights, hotels, and other travel expenses with this Chase credit card. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns you the following benefits:
5x points on Chase Travel purchases (including flights, hotels, and rental cars) 5x points on Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025) 2x points on all other travel purchases 3x points on meals Eligible 3x points on online grocery delivery services 3x points on select online streaming services 1x points on all other purchases
This card has a $95 annual fee, but with the 25% extra value you get when you redeem points for travel, it’s easy to recoup the annual fee quickly. And this card comes with a $50 statement credit when you book a hotel through Chase Travel. You can probably get more than half of your $95 annual fee back by just one night at a hotel booked through Chase.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also offers a generous welcome offer for a limited time. Earn $300 Chase Travel℠ Credit + 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
Ready to commit? Click here to learn more and see how you can instantly earn up to $1,050 in Chase Travel℠ value.
3. Premium travel card offering luxurious benefits and VIP experiences
Would you like to make your travel experience a little more “luxury”? If you love the finer things in life, the Platinum Card® from American Express is your budget-friendly travel companion.
This card comes with luxurious benefits that are popular among frequent fliers, globetrotters, and fine dining enthusiasts, including:
Airport Lounge Access: Cardholders have access to over 1,400 airport lounges Elite Hotel Status: Cardholders automatically earn elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy Up to $200 in hotel credits: Cardholders can enjoy $200 in statement credits when they book a prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotels Receive through American Express Travel. Hotel Collection requires a minimum stay of 2 nights. Up to $200 Airfare Credit: Covers incidental airfare on one selected eligible airline. Global Dining Access with Resy: Enjoy reservations and VIP dining benefits at top restaurants. Terms and conditions apply. Registration may be required
This card has a hefty annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees), but its benefits give you more than $1,500 in value. Also, get your first year’s annual fee back with a generous welcome offer of 80,000 American Express Membership Rewards points when you spend at least $8,000 in purchases in the first six months of cardmembership. (conditions apply).
Ready to expand your world of luxury travel benefits? Click here to learn more about how the Platinum Card® from American Express can transform your life as a traveler.
conclusion
All three of these cards are great options for fall 2024 travel. If you want cash back on gas, cheaper flights and hotels, or luxury travel perks, consider one of these travel points cards for your travel needs.
