Top Travel Rewards Cards for 2016

Credit card companies are constantly changing their signup bonuses and modifying the terms and benefits they offer to customers. Luckily we spend a lot of time thinking about travel rewards and tracking all those rewards card changes.

For 2016, here are our top picks for travel rewards credit cards:

1) Chase Sapphire

sapphire_preferred_visaNew members earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months that your account is open. That is worth $625 in Travel Rewards when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards. New account holders can earn an additional 5,000 bonus points after you add your first authorized user and make a purchase of any amount within the first three months.

Note: This offer is not available to current cardholders or anyone who has received a new card member bonus for this card within the past 24 months.

Chase Sapphire members receive these benefits:

  • Earn 2X points per dollar spent on travel and dining at restaurants
  • Earn 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Chip-enabled technology
  • Get 20% off travel when you redeem for airfare, hotel stays, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards

This card comes with a variable APR of 15.99% (based on the Prime Rate) which is applied to both purchases and balance transfers. Balance transfers are subject to a fee of $5 or 5% of the amount of the transfer (whichever is greater).

Members may transfer points at full value to participating travel partners through Chase Ultimate Rewards. This means that 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points equal 1,000 partner miles/points. Travel programs include British Airways Executive Club, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, Hyatt Gold Passport, Ritz-Carlton Rewards and more.

Chase Sapphire has an annual fee of $95 which is waived for the first year of membership.

chase_ink_plus_business2) Chase Ink Plus Business Card

New account holders can earn 60,000 bonus points after making at least $5,000 in purchases in the first three months that your account is open. These bonus points are worth $750 in travel rewards when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Other features of this card are:

  • Earn 5X points per dollar spent on the first $50,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet and cable TV services each account anniversary year
  • Earn 2X points per dollar spent on the first $50,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel each account anniversary year
  • Earn unlimited 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
  • Rewards don’t expire as long as your account is open and in good standing
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Get 20% off hotels, airfare, car rentals and cruises when you redeem points through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • Smart- chip technology
  • Employee cards at no additional cost

A variable 15.24% APR (based on the Prime Rate) is applied to purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% of the total amount of the transfer (whichever is greater) is charged for each balance transfer that posts to your account.

The Chase Ink Plus Business Card has an annual fee of $95 which is not waived.

Barclaycard Arrival Plus World MasterCard3) Barclaycard Arrival Plus MasterCard

New members have the opportunity to earn 40,000 bonus miles after making $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first 90 days that your card is activated. This is enough to redeem for a $400 travel statement credit.

Additionally, new account holders can take advantage of a 0% introductory APR for 12 months on balance transfers. To be eligible, all balance transfers must be completed and post to your account within 45 days of account opening. After this time, a variable APR of 15.99% or 19.99% will apply based on your creditworthiness at the time of approval.

There is no introductory APR available on purchases. The variable rate will be either 15.99% or 19.99%, again based on your creditworthiness.

Here is an overview of the card:

  • Earn 2X miles per dollar spent on all purchases (unlimited)
  • Get 5% miles back to use toward your next redemption every time you redeem points (a 60,000 mile redemption will give you 3,000 miles towards your next trip)
  • Redeem miles for travel statement credits starting at 10,000 miles for a $100 credit
  • Miles don’t expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing
  • Chip-card technology for enhanced security
  • No foreign transaction fees

The annual fee of $89 is waived for the first year.

spg_amex4) Starwood American Express

The Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) American Express currently offers new members the ability to earn 25,000 Starpoints after using the Card to make at least $3,000 in purchases within the first three months that your account is open. At this time, there is no introductory APR available on either purchases or balance transfers. Your specific APR will vary between 15.24% and 19.24% depending on your creditworthiness and other financial factors at the time of approval. A balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer (whichever is greater) will be applied to each balance transfer that posts to your account.

Here are some key benefits members receive with Starwood American Express:

  • Earn up to 5X Starpoints for every dollar spent at Starwood Hotels and Resorts – two Starpoints per dollar charged on the card plus an additional two or three Starpoints earned as a SPG member
  • Earn 1X Starpoint per dollar spent on all other purchases
  • Receive credit for five nights and two stays each year towards SPG Elite status
  • Earn free nights at any of Starwood’s ten distinct brands including St. Regis, Westin, Sheraton, and W Hotels (with no blackout dates)
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Receive free in-room, premium Internet access while staying at participating SPG Hotels

The annual fee of $95 is waived for the first year of membership.

citi_thankyou_premier5) Citi ThankYou Premier

New members have the opportunity to earn 50,000 Bonus ThankYou Points after spending at least $3,000 on purchases within the first three months that your card is active. These points can be redeemed for up to $625 in airfare or up to $500 in gift cards or other rewards. Note: Bonus ThankYou Points are not available to anyone who has had a Citi ThankYou Premier card opened or closed in the past 18 months.

Here are the important highlights of the card:

  • Earn 3X ThankYou points on everyday travel such as gas stations, public transportation, tolls, taxis and parking
  • Earn 3X ThankYou points on destination travel including airfare, hotels, cruises, car rentals, travel agencies and more
  • Earn 2X ThankYou points on dining and entertainment such as cafes, restaurants and takeout as well as music downloads, movie theatres, concerts and sporting events
  • Earn 1X ThankYou point on all other purchases
  • No cap on the amount of points you can earn
  • Points never expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Smart-chip technology

ThankYou points are worth 25% more when redeemed for airfare, hotels, cruises, and car rentals through the ThankYou Travel Center as compared to gift cards. You can also transfer ThankYou points to airline and hotel loyalty programs including Hilton HHonors and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. The minimum transfer amount is 1,000 points and there is no fee for this service.

There is no introductory APR available at the present time. The standard variable APR for purchases and balance transfers is 13.99%, 16.99%, 18.99%, 20.99% or 22.99% based on your creditworthiness at the time of approval. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the total amount of the transfer (whichever is greater) is applied to all balance transfers which post to your account.

Citi ThankYou Premier has an annual fee of $95 which is waived for the first year.