Favorite Travel Starter Cards June 2026
When it comes to the world of travel credit cards, not all are equal, and that’s certainly the case for some of your first travel credit cards. Here are some of my current favorite travel credit cards that are a great “starter” card.
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Pat’s Take: When people ask me what my #1 credit card recommendation is, I always ask first, do you already have the Chase Sapphire Preferred? Chase Ultimate Reward Points are arguably some of the easiest to use out of any program, being able to transfer to key partners like Hyatt. This was one of the first credit cards I personally ever opened and was a staple in my wallet for years until I switched to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® – but the good news is that you’re now able to hold both! The Chase Sapphire Preferred has been a long-time personal favorite for many reasons. If you’re spending on dining, the 3x points are great. Plus, when you pair this with a Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you’ve got a great two card combination due to the Unlimited’s everyday earning rate.
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Pat’s Take: If you’re someone who spends quite a bit on food purchases whether it’s dining out or on groceries, then the American Express Gold Card is right for you. This is one of the best cards when it comes to racking up points quickly, simply because of how great the earning rates are for multiple categories, especially when it comes to all things food. This is one of the higher annual fees out there for what I consider a starter card, but it can be worth it when you look at some of the benefits and credits.
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Best for Everyday Earning
$95 Annual Fee
Pat’s Take: This is one of the simplest credits card out there without a huge annual fee. You’ll earn 2x miles for every single dollar you spend without the need to track multipliers, etc. Plus you’ll have access to Capital One’s 15+ transfer partners and excellent travel portal.
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Pro Tip: If you have an Ultimate Rewards earning card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can move your cash-back, and effectively make this bonus worth 20,000 Ultimate Rewards Points instead.
Pat’s Take: When it comes to everyday cards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is a no brainer if you already have an Ultimate Rewards earning card. The cash-back here effectively becomes 1.5x points versus 1.5% cash-back when you “move” the cash-back to your Ultimate Rewards earning card. This can stretch the value out of this card by quite a bit, considering that these points can then transfer to key partners like World of Hyatt, British Airways, and more! When you pair this card with a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you’ve got quite the pairing! I strongly recommend this card to anyone with an Ultimate Rewards earning card already in their lineup.
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Pro Tip: If you have a Capital One Venture or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you can move your cash-back, and effectively make this bonus worth 20,000 Capital One miles instead.
Pat’s Take: This is arguably the most under-rated Capital One Card in the entire portfolio, especially if you have a Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or a Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. You not only will get elevated earnings on multiple categories, but you’ll be able to move your cash-back into Capital One miles at a 1% to 1x rate, making the cash-back much more valuable.