Best travel credit cards for International flights and hotel rewards in travel frequently in 2025 whether for business trips, luxury vacations, or family holidays a good travel credit card is no longer optional. It’s a tool to save money, earn free flights and hotel nights, and unlock premium travel perks.
The right card can give you:
- Free or discounted international flights
- Free hotel nights and room upgrades
- Airport lounge access and priority services
- No foreign transaction fees
- Built-in travel protections
In this guide, we’ll break down what to look for, the main types of travel credit cards, and how to choose the best travel credit cards for international flights and hotel rewards in 2025 based on your travel style.
5 Best Credit Cards for International Travel
Here are 5 real, popular credit cards for international travel in 2025, in the same “tier” and style as Chase Sapphire Preferred® and The Platinum Card® from American Express:
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Type: Mid-tier flexible travel rewards card (great all-rounder)
Why it’s great for international travel:
- Bonus points on travel & dining:
Commonly offers elevated points on travel, dining, and sometimes online grocery/streaming (check current structure). - Strong travel protections:
Trip cancellation/interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, primary rental car coverage, and more (very rare at this annual fee level). - Flexible Ultimate Rewards® points:
Redeem via Chase Travel℠ or transfer to partners like United, Southwest, British Airways, Air France/KLM, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG, etc. - No foreign transaction fees.
Best for:
Someone who wants a powerful but not ultra-expensive travel card that works for both flights and hotels worldwide.
2. The Platinum Card® from American Express
Type: Premium/luxury travel card (high fee, high perks)
Why it’s great for international travel:
- Huge lounge network:
Access to Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass (enrollment required), Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta), Plaza Premium and more—perfect for long layovers. - Airline and travel credits (varies by region):
Annual statement credits for airline fees or travel bookings can significantly offset the annual fee. - Hotel benefits:
Access to Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection with perks like daily breakfast, room upgrades when available, and property credits. - Strong earn on travel:
Elevated points on flights booked directly with airlines or via American Express Travel, and often on prepaid hotels through Amex Travel. - No foreign transaction fees.
Best for:
Frequent or luxury travelers who value airport lounges, hotel perks, and premium service more than a low annual fee.
3. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Type: Premium version of Sapphire, between Preferred and Amex Platinum in style
Why it’s great for international travel:
- High earn rate on travel & dining:
Typically offers extra points on travel (after using up the annual travel credit) and dining worldwide. - Annual travel credit:
A flexible travel credit (e.g., up to a set amount per year) that automatically reimburses many travel purchases, effectively reducing the net annual fee. - Priority Pass™ Select membership:
Access to a large global lounge network (enrollment required). - Excellent travel protections:
Among the best for trip delay, cancellation, and rental car coverage. - Strong transfer partners via Ultimate Rewards® (similar to Sapphire Preferred, but with higher earn and better portal value).
- No foreign transaction fees.
Best for:
Travelers who want a premium card with outstanding insurance + lounge access and who can use the travel credit every year.
4. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Type: Simple, flexible travel card (flat-rate with easy redemptions)
Why it’s great for international travel:
- Flat-rate miles on every purchase:
Easy to understand: earn the same rate on everything, not just travel, making it good as an everyday card. - Versatile redemptions:
Use “miles” to erase any travel purchase as a statement credit, or transfer to airline and hotel partners. - No foreign transaction fees.
- Often has a global acceptance advantage thanks to wide network and EMV chip support.
Best for:
People who want a simple earn structure that still works well for international flights and hotels, without juggling lots of bonus categories.
5. American Express® Gold Card (Good Travel + Dining Hybrid)
Type: Dining & travel-focused rewards card
Why it’s great for international-oriented travelers:
- High earn rate on dining & groceries:
Great if a lot of your travel spend is on food, both at home and abroad (dining at restaurants worldwide usually counts). - Often offers bonus points on flights booked directly with airlines or via Amex Travel.
- Membership Rewards® points can be transferred to many airline partners (e.g., Delta, Air France/KLM, British Airways, Emirates, etc.) and some hotel programs.
- No foreign transaction fees (on US-issued versions).
- Complementary to The Platinum Card®: many people pair Gold for earning and Platinum for perks.
Best for:
Travelers who eat out a lot and take several flights a year, and want to build a large stash of flexible points for future international trips.
What Makes a Credit Card “Great” for International Flights & Hotels?
When you care about both airline and hotel value, focus on cards that offer:
- Bonus rewards on travel (airfare, hotels, online travel agencies)
- Flexible or transferable points that can go to both airlines and hotel chains
- No foreign transaction fees (crucial for overseas trips)
- Strong travel protections (trip delay, baggage, cancellations, medical emergencies)
- Extra luxury perks like lounge access, hotel collection benefits, and free nights
From there, cards fall into a few powerful categories.
Flexible Bank Travel Rewards Cards
Best for: All-round value on flights and hotels
These are the “workhorse” travel cards from major banks (for example, in the US: Chase Sapphire, Capital One Venture, etc.). They earn flexible points, not tied to one airline or hotel.
Why they’re great for international flights:
- Bonus points on flights and general travel (e.g., 2x–5x on travel categories).
- Points can be redeemed through a bank travel portal for almost any airline.
- Many allow point transfers to major airline programs (including alliance partners for long-haul routes).
Why they’re great for hotel rewards:
- Book any hotel—chain or independent—through the bank’s portal using points.
- Transfer points to hotel partners (like Marriott, Hyatt, IHG, etc., depending on the bank).
- Often get boosted value when redeeming points via the bank’s platform.
Ideal for you if:
- You fly different airlines and stay in a mix of hotel brands.
- You want one main card to power most of your travel rewards.
- Flexibility is more important than deep loyalty to a single airline or hotel.
Co-Branded Airline Credit Cards
Best for: Cheap international flights and flight-specific perks
These cards are issued with a specific airline (or airline group). Think “big frequent-flyer partner card” in your region.
Why they’re powerful for international flights:
- Extra miles on tickets with that airline (and often partners).
- Valuable perks like:
- Free or discounted checked bags
- Priority boarding and sometimes priority check-in
- Preferential seat selection
- Large welcome bonuses often worth one or more international economy flights (or a big discount on premium cabins).
How they help indirectly with hotel rewards:
- Many airlines allow redeeming miles for hotels via their travel portals.
- Booking partner hotels through the airline can earn bonus miles.
- Saving cash on flights means you can spend more on better hotels.
Ideal for you if:
- You usually fly one main airline or alliance for long-haul trips.
- You value airline perks (baggage, boarding, priority) as much as raw miles.
- You’re comfortable having most of your flight value in one loyalty program.
Co-Branded Hotel Credit Cards
Best for: Free nights, room upgrades, and elite hotel perks
These cards are issued with major hotel brands (e.g., Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Hyatt, etc.). They’re designed to maximize value at that chain’s properties worldwide.
Why they’re amazing for hotel rewards:
- Very high earn rates on stays (once you stack:
- Base hotel points
- Elite status bonus points
- Credit card bonus points
- Automatic hotel elite status, which can include:
- Room upgrades (when available)
- Late checkout
- Free breakfast or lounge access at upscale properties
- Many include annual free night certificates that can easily offset the annual fee.
How they support international flights:
- Some hotel programs allow point transfers to airline miles (usually at modest ratios).
- You can cover airport hotels, long layovers, or stopover stays using points.
- With hotels largely “paid for” by points, it’s easier to justify upgrading flights.
Ideal for you if:
- You consistently stay at one or two hotel brands across different countries.
- You want to feel like a VIP at check-in—even on award stays.
- You travel enough that an annual free night is easy to use.
Premium / Luxury Travel Credit Cards
Best for: Business class flights + 5-star hotels + VIP treatment
These are the high-annual-fee cards (like The Platinum Card® from American Express, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, etc.). They’re built for comfort and perks.
Why they shine for international flights:
- Strong earn rates on travel and sometimes dining.
- Access to airport lounges worldwide (proprietary lounges + Priority Pass-style networks), which is invaluable on long-haul trips.
- Airline or travel credits that help offset the annual fee.
- Robust travel protections for delays, cancellations, lost/delayed baggage, and more.
Why they shine for hotel stays:
- Access to luxury hotel collections that include:
- Daily breakfast
- Room upgrades (when available)
- On-property credits (e.g., $50–$100+ to spend at the bar, restaurant, or spa)
- Guaranteed late checkout in some programs
- Often include automatic elite status with one or more hotel chains.
Ideal for you if:
- You travel internationally several times per year.
- You value lounge access, hotel perks, and insurance more than the lower annual fee of mid-tier cards.
- You’re okay paying a high fee as long as you get more value back in credits and perks.
Simple Cash Back or Hybrid Travel Cards
Best for: Beginners and “set it and forget it” travelers
Not everyone wants to juggle transfer partners, award charts, and portals. Flat-rate cashback or simple hybrid travel cards can still be powerful tools.
Why they work for international flights & hotels:
- Earn a flat rate (e.g., 1.5%–2% back) or boosted rewards on travel and dining.
- Redeem rewards as statement credits against:
- Flight purchases
- Hotel bookings
- Packages or tours
- Many travel-oriented versions also offer no foreign transaction fees.
Ideal for you if:
- You don’t want to learn the complexity of airline and hotel programs.
- You prefer to book whatever airline or hotel is cheapest or best rated.
- You just want your card to quietly save you money in the background.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Are travel credit cards really worth it for international trips?
Yes, if you travel internationally at least once a year and use your card regularly, you can earn:
- Free or discounted flights
- Free hotel nights or upgrades
- Airport lounge access and travel protections
Just make sure you pay on time and in full to avoid interest.
2. Can I use one card for both flights and hotels?
Yes. Many general travel rewards cards and some premium co-branded cards give strong rewards on both:
- Flights
- Hotels
- Other travel expenses
You can also combine a general travel card with an airline or hotel card for maximum flexibility.
3. Is it better to redeem points for cash or travel?
In most cases, you’ll get more value when you redeem points for:
- Flights and hotel bookings, especially premium cabins and luxury hotels
- Transfers to airline and hotel partners
Cashback is simpler, but often worth less per point than strategic travel redemptions.
