Are you ready to start traveling for nearly free with points and miles but feeling stuck on which credit card to choose? Don’t let analysis paralysis get you! I’ve got you covered with my two favorite beginner-friendly travel credit cards. These are the first two I personally opened, and they’ve helped me (and so many others) travel the world on points. Let’s dive into the best travel credit card for beginners! (IMO)
1. Capital One Venture X Card
First up, my absolute favorite: the Capital One Venture X. This card is a game-changer, offering amazing benefits that make the $395 annual fee totally worth it. I know—$395 sounds steep, but hear me out! The perks easily make up for it.
Welcome Offer
When you sign up for the Capital One Venture X, you get 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. That’s huge and can cover flights, hotels, or other travel expenses.
Why It’s Worth It
- $300 Annual Travel Credit – Every year, you get a $300 credit for bookings through the Capital One travel portal, which already offsets most of the annual fee.
- Airport Lounge Access – Get free access to Capital One Lounges (Denver, Dallas-Fort Worth, D.C., and more coming soon) plus 1,600+ Priority Pass lounges worldwide.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees – A must-have for international travel!
- Earns 2x Miles on Every Purchase – No need to track categories. Just swipe and earn.
- Flexible Points Redemption – Use your miles to erase any travel purchase or transfer to airline and hotel partners.
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry Credit – Get reimbursed for your application fee (up to $120).
- Hertz President’s Circle Status – Skip the rental car counter and get free upgrades!
With all these perks, the Capital One Venture X is an amazing card to get started on your points and miles journey!
2. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
If you want a more budget-friendly option, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a perfect starter card. It has a much lower $95 annual fee, but still offers fantastic rewards.
Welcome Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. This is worth at least $750 in travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards, but you can get even more value when transferring to travel partners.
Why It’s a Great Starter Card
- Best Transfer Partners – Chase points transfer 1:1 to top airline and hotel partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest (Hyatt redemptions are a sweet spot!).
- Earn More on Travel & Dining – 3x points on dining, 2x on travel, 1x on everything else.
- $50 Annual Hotel Credit – Use this for hotel bookings through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- Primary Car Rental Insurance – No need to pay extra for rental car insurance.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees – Essential for international trips.
If you’re just starting out and aren’t ready for a higher annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a fantastic entry point into the world of points and miles.
Which Card Should You Get First?
If you travel often and want lounge access, go for the Capital One Venture X. If you prefer flexibility with airline and hotel points, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the way to go. Either way, you can’t go wrong!
Check out the video below for more info on my top two favorite cards!
Ready to apply for one of the best beginner credit cards and start earning those points?
Capital One Venture X- Apply Here!
Chase Sapphire Preferred- Apply Here!
*Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in this video.
*If you use my links to apply for one of the cards mentioned, I will receive a small referral bonus.
*For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by products. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
Ready to start your points & Miles journey?
