{"id":240804,"date":"2026-05-17T14:00:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T14:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/17\/the-best-starter-travel-credit-cards-for-beginners-the-points-guy-2\/"},"modified":"2026-05-17T14:00:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T14:00:19","slug":"the-best-starter-travel-credit-cards-for-beginners-the-points-guy-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/17\/the-best-starter-travel-credit-cards-for-beginners-the-points-guy-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The best starter travel credit cards for beginners – The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The world of credit cards can seem overwhelming when you’re just starting. But if you want to move on from your cash-back card<\/a><\/span> (or even a student card<\/a><\/span>), you’re in the right place. The right starter travel card<\/a><\/span> can offer much more rewarding perks.<\/p>\n

With so much information and so many options, how do you know which card to choose? Do you want transferable points<\/a><\/span>? Airline miles? Free nights with a hotel chain<\/a><\/span>? There are no right or wrong answers to these questions \u2014 it’s all about what’s important to you.<\/p>\n

We’ve assembled this list of the best starter credit cards so you don’t end up with rewards that don’t match your goals. None of these cards are tied to complicated, difficult-to-understand programs, nor do they have intimidating annual fees<\/a><\/span>, though they all have the potential for outsize value.<\/p>\n

And all of them are worth keeping in your credit card inventory for the long term.<\/p>\n

Related: How to pick the right travel credit card for you<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Best starter travel rewards cards<\/h2>\n

The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Card<\/strong><\/th>\nWelcome offer<\/strong><\/th>\nBonus categories<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
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Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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  • 5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Travel\u2120 (excluding the $50 hotel credit)<\/li>\n
  • 5 points per dollar spent with Lyft (through Sept. 30, 2027) and on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more (through Dec. 31, 2027, with a limit of 25,000 bonus points)<\/li>\n
  • 3 points per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services and online grocery orders (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs)<\/li>\n
  • 2 points per dollar spent on travel not booked through Chase Travel<\/li>\n
  • 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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  • 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals and car rentals booked and paid for through Capital One Travel<\/li>\n
  • 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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  • 10 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions when booked through CitiTravel.com<\/li>\n
  • 3 points per dollar spent at restaurants (including takeout), supermarkets, gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations, on other hotel purchases and on air travel<\/li>\n
  • 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases in your first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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  • 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com or through the Amex Travel App\u2122<\/li>\n
  • 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent)<\/li>\n
  • 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent)<\/li>\n
  • 3 points per dollar spent on airfare purchased directly from the airline, through amextravel.com or through the Amex Travel App<\/li>\n
  • 2 points per dollar spent on car rentals booked through amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App<\/li>\n
  • 2 points per dollar spent on cruises booked through amextravel.com<\/li>\n
  • 1 point per dollar spent on other eligible purchases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on travel, transit and dining at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.)<\/li>\n
  • 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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<\/p>\n
    \n
  • 5 points per dollar spent on hotels<\/li>\n
  • 4 points per dollar spent on airlines<\/li>\n
  • 3 points per dollar spent on dining and other travel<\/li>\n
  • 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Earn 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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