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You can enjoy perks and benefits without the huge price tag. As a credit card expert, these are my favorite travel cards under $100.
My 6 Favorite Travel Credit Cards Under $100
Chase Sapphire Preferred: Unmatched Travel Rewards
CNET’S PICK
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Rating Breakdown: 4.3/5
- Welcome Bonus: 3.5
- Rewards Program: 5.0
- Value for Money: 5.0
- Benefits: 4.0
- Fees and APR: 3.5
How We Rate Rewards / Travel Cards
We rate credit cards using our Rewards / Travel methodology for cards tailored to earning rewards. We focus on each card’s reward potential, the value you get compared to the card’s cost, the benefits and the card’s rates and fees. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings.
Card Details
- Intro Offer: 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- Annual Fee: $95
- Rewards Rate: 1x – 5x
- 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries
- 2x on all other travel purchases
- 1x on all other purchases
- Rec. Credit: 670 – 850 (Good – Excellent)
- APR: 21.49% – 28.49% Variable
Card Details (Continued)
- Intro Balance Transfer APR: N/A
- Intro Purchase APR: N/A
- Regular APR: 21.49% – 28.49% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- Rewards Rates:
- 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries
- 2x on all other travel purchases
- 1x on all other purchases
Capital One Venture Rewards Card: Ideal for Everyday Spending
CNET’S PICK
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Rating Breakdown: 3.6/5
- Welcome Bonus: 3.5
- Rewards Program: 3.5
- Value for Money: 4.0
- Benefits: 3.5
- Fees and APR: 3.0
How We Rate Rewards / Travel Cards
We rate credit cards using our Rewards / Travel methodology for cards tailored to earning rewards. We focus on each card’s reward potential, the value you get compared to the card’s cost, the benefits and the card’s rates and fees. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings.
Card Details
- Intro Offer: Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first cardholder year – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel.
- Annual Fee: $95
- Rewards Rate: 2x – 5x
- 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Rec. Credit: 670 – 850 (Good – Excellent)
- APR: 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
Card Details (Continued)
- Intro Balance Transfer APR: N/A
- Intro Purchase APR: N/A
- Regular APR: 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee: $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you.
- Rewards Rates:
- 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card: Competitive Traveling and Dining Rewards
CNET’S PICK
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
Rating Breakdown: 3.7/5
- Welcome Bonus: 3.5
- Rewards Program: 4.0
- Value for Money: 4.0
- Benefits: 3.5
- Fees and APR: 3.0
How We Rate Rewards / Travel Cards
We rate credit cards using our Rewards / Travel methodology for cards tailored to earning rewards. We focus on each card’s reward potential, the value you get compared to the card’s cost, the benefits and the card’s rates and fees. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings.
Card Details
- Intro Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.
- Annual Fee: $95
- Rewards Rate: 1x – 5x
- 5X points on hotels
- 4X points on airlines
- 3X points on other travel and restaurants
- 1X points on other purchases
- Rec. Credit: 670 – 850 (Good – Excellent)
- APR: 21.24%, 26.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
Card Details (Continued)
- Intro Balance Transfer APR: N/A
- Intro Purchase APR: N/A
- Regular APR: 21.24%, 26.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee: up to 5%, min: $5
- Rewards Rates:
- 5X points on hotels
- 4X points on airlines
- 3X points on other travel and restaurants
- 1X points on other purchases
Citi Strata Premier Card: Great for Gas and Groceries
CNET’S PICK
Citi Premier® Card
Rating Breakdown: 3.4/5
- Welcome Bonus: 3.0
- Rewards Program: 3.5
- Value for Money: 4.0
- Benefits: 3.5
- Fees and APR: 3.5
How We Rate Rewards / Travel Cards
We rate credit cards using our Rewards / Travel methodology for cards tailored to earning rewards. We focus on each card’s reward potential, the value you get compared to the card’s cost, the benefits and the card’s rates and fees. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings.
Card Details
- Intro Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
- Annual Fee: $95
- Rewards Rate: 1x – 3x
- 3X on travel including gas
- 2X on dining
- 1X on all other purchases
- Rec. Credit: 670 – 850 (Good – Excellent)
- APR: 21.74% – 29.74% Variable
Card Details (Continued)
- Intro Balance Transfer APR: N/A
- Intro Purchase APR: N/A
- Regular APR: 21.74% – 29.74% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- Rewards Rates:
- 3X on travel including gas
- 2X on dining
- 1X on all other purchases
U.S. Bank Altitude Go Card: Ideal for Dining
CNET’S PICK
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
Rating Breakdown: 3.5/5
- Welcome Bonus: 3.5
- Rewards Program: 3.5
- Value for Money: 4.0
- Benefits: 3.0
- Fees and APR: 3.5
How We Rate Rewards / Travel Cards
We rate credit cards using our Rewards / Travel methodology for cards tailored to earning rewards. We focus on each card’s reward potential, the value you get compared to the card’s cost, the benefits and the card’s rates and fees. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings.
Card Details
- Intro Offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that’s $200 in statement credits toward eligible purchases.
- Annual Fee: $0
- Rewards Rate: 1x – 4x
- 4X points on dining
- 2X points on groceries, gas and on streaming services
- 1X points on other purchases
- Rec. Credit: 670 – 850 (Good – Excellent)
- APR: 18.24% – 27.24% (Variable)
Card Details (Continued)
- Intro Balance Transfer APR: N/A
- Intro Purchase APR: N/A
- Regular APR: 18.24% – 27.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- Rewards Rates:
- 4X points on dining
- 2X points on groceries, gas and on streaming services
- 1X points on other purchases