Best Credit Cards in the USA (2026) – Top Cards for Rewards, Cashback & More

Using a travel credit card is one of the fastest ways to earn free travel. Check out our guide to learn about the best USA travel cards to get for every type of traveller.

Why Use a Travel Credit Card for USA Trips?

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Why Use USA Travel Credit Cards

You’ve probably heard the saying that the “best things in life are free”. That’s certainly true when it comes to free travel! While most of us aren’t lucky enough to have a hotel or airline connection that allows us to travel for free, there are other ways that you can travel for a very low cost. One of these is by using travel credit cards!

Having a credit card can be a daunting idea for some people who prefer to pay for everything by cash. While there are some countries in the world where cash is king, the US is certainly not one of them! Credit cards are widely accepted throughout the country and are the preferred method of payment for many Americans. There are many reasons for this. To start, credit cards often offer a higher level of security than cash. Many American credit cards also come with travel insurance, which can cover you in case you experience any trip cancellations or delays. Finally, most credit card companies offer rewards points that can be used for other purchases.

How to Pick Travel Credit Cards

The type of credit card you decide to get largely depends on the way you like to travel. Frequent travellers will often opt for a “generic” Chase or Capital One card as it gives them the most flexibility when it comes to redeeming the points. Other people prefer to obtain a branded credit card from a hotel chain or airline that they frequently use and love. Meanwhile, people who only travel once or twice a year can get cash back on purchases, which they can then use for non-travel-related purchases.

One of the best things about using travel credit cards is that you can begin to “stack” your bonuses by taking advantage of special offers on flights, hotel rooms, and activities while earning points on them by using your credit card to purchase them. For example, you’re eligible to earn Trip.com points if you purchase a flight and hotel package on Trip.com. These can then be used as a discount on future bookings that you make using your credit and earn even more credit card points!

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Although there are a few different types of credit cards that you can get, travel credit cards are generally the best ones for travellers. These will often come with extra point bonuses when used to purchase flights and hotels or even when dining at restaurants. You can then use these points on their travel portal or transfer them to airline partners.

Some of the most popular travel credit cards in the United States are the Chase Sapphire and Capital One Venture cards. Many airlines and hotel chains also offer their own branded credit cards, which give you extra incentives and points bonuses when flying with them or staying in one of their hotels.

Below is a breakdown of the major Chase and Capital One cards that are in the wallets of most major travellers. These cards have a wide range of airlines that they partner with, making it easy to use your points to buy flight tickets. As you go through this list, keep in mind that the sign-up bonuses for travel credit cards tend to change frequently. Since you are limited by the number of credit cards you can apply for, it’s important to sign up for a credit card when the bonus is high. This will help you maximize your reward benefits.

Airline Credit Cards for Cheap Flights on Trip.com

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If you’re loyal to one particular airline, you should also look into airline-specific credit cards. While they can be used for any type of purchase, the rewards can only be used to purchase flights, upgrade seats, extra amenities, etc, for that particular airline or their codeshare partners. They also come with extra benefits such as free checked bags, priority boarding, and bonus miles when you book on their airline.

Some of the most popular airline credit cards are Delta SkyMiles® Gold and United Explorer. Below is a breakdown of what each card offers.

Hotel Credit Cards to Save on Trip.com Stays

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If you don’t fly that often but like to stay in nice hotels, then a branded hotel credit card could be the best option for you. The two most common types of hotel credit cards are Marriott and Hilton, which collectively offer tens of thousands of hotels around the world. You can earn points on these cards the same way that you would any of the cards listed above. You can then redeem those points on hotel stays. The redemption value differs depending on the type of hotel, the dates that you plan on travelling, and the hotel’s location

Cashback Credit Cards for Flexible Travel Savings

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If you don't want to start playing the “points game” and would prefer to just get cash back on your purchases, you can always look into cards like the Citi Double Cash, which gives you 2% back on everything or the Bank of America Customised Cash, which offers 3% cash back. This is a particularly good option for people who don’t spend a lot of money on day-to-day items and travel infrequently, as it could take a long time for them to build up enough points to book a free hotel stay or flight.

Use cashback to offset your next Trip.com booking!

How to Combine Trip.com Rewards with Credit Card Points

Credit card points are a fantastic way to score free travel and extra benefits. And best of all, you can combine your travel credit card with Trip.com Rewards to make your travel even more rewarding! For example, you can use Trip Coins for a $200 discount and then pay the rest with your credit card. This purchase can then be used to accrue points towards free travel that you can book through the credit card travel portal or transfer to a partner airline.