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The 14 Best Credit Cards for Families [2024]

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The 14 Best Credit Cards for Families

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It’s no secret that raising kids can be very expensive. With a constant list of expenses and responsibilities, managing the monthly bills can get overwhelming. But with the right credit card, you can save money on your family’s expenses and get rewarded with perks.

Whether you and your family prefer cash-back or want to earn some points and miles, we’ve found the best credit cards for families.

Gas and groceries can not only help fast-track your next family vacation , but they can also offer valuable benefits such as travel insurance and purchase protection. You might want some extra coverage on that new tablet — and the right family credit card can offer it!

For family travelers, having the right credit cards in your wallet can help reduce your costs and give you peace of mind if something goes wrong. That can offer value whether you’re just going on a quick road trip for the weekend or planning a big European summer vacation.

From bonus points to unlimited cash-back, we’ve got you covered. Don’t worry if this all sounds overwhelming — we will break it all down for you!

How To Pick The Best Family Credit Card

As with any credit card, you should choose a family credit card that works for you. Your family’s needs may be very different from the next when it comes to everyday expenses and reward preferences.

Some families may prefer to receive cash-back, while others like to redeem points for a family vacation.

To each their own! We don’t judge, we just want to educate you on your options.

Parents constantly juggle an ever-increasing amount of responsibilities and expenses. Doctor appointments, school supplies, homework, after-school sports, grocery shopping, clothes shopping, family dinners, filling up the car with gas — the list goes on and on.

If you have to make all of these everyday purchases, you should at least be rewarded for it. By using the right card for your family’s everyday expenses, you could be padding your bank account with some cash-back or building up points and miles for a family vacation.

For example, some cards offer increased earnings in categories like gas and groceries. So if your family spends a lot on those categories each month, you could earn extra rewards.

When applying for a credit card, one of the most important factors you should consider is the current sign-up bonus.

A sign-up bonus is usually a fixed amount of points that you will receive after spending a predetermined amount on your new credit card within a certain amount of time, usually the first 3 months.

For example, you could earn a 50,000-point bonus if you spend $3,000 within the first 3 months of approval for a new credit card. Those 50,000 points are in addition to the points earned from spending $3,000.

Hot Tip: Sign-up bonuses change all the time, so watch for the best credit card bonuses to get for a new card when the bonus is high. 

When it comes to credit cards, and especially travel credit cards for families, there are often competitive perks .

Depending on how much your annual fee is — which could be $0 — your perks can vary greatly from one card to another.

Common perks on family travel credit cards often include:

• Airport lounge access
• Automatic loyalty status with major hotel chains
• Annual free hotel nights
• Trip insurance
• Rental car insurance
• Travel statement credits

These perks may be considered more valuable to some than others, so it’s always a good idea to compare cards to see what’s included and consider what you will really take advantage of.

Many credit cards come with an annual fee. You may balk at the idea of paying to have a credit card. But depending on the perks and sign-up bonuses, more often than not, you can get value out of paying an annual fee .

While there are certainly some travel credit cards with no annual fee, some of our favorite cards for families come with annual fees. In fact, it can be easy to justify paying hundreds of dollars per year in annual fees by the amount of value you receive from them.

That said, if you look at the benefits and don’t think you’ll be able to take advantage of them, a no-annual-fee card may be a better fit.

An often-overlooked obstacle when gathering points for a big trip is how complicated it can be when it comes time to redeem said points.

Parents have enough on their plates without needing to add hours of research just to learn how to redeem their points and miles.

For example, it doesn’t make sense for you to sign up for a Delta credit card if Delta doesn’t serve your local airport, right?

It may make more sense to sign up for a Chase card where you can book whatever you want directly through the Chase Travel Portal .

Best Credit Cards for Families

Alright, let’s jump into the fun part and start looking at some credit card options for you and your family!

Below, we’ll dig into credit cards that are a good fit for families looking for cash-back or points and miles. We’ll break them down into categories that are best for earning and redeeming based on family spending habits and redemption goals.

Want cash-back for your family to use immediately? We’ve got you covered. Prefer to save up some points so you can plan a family vacation for cheap? We’ve got that too!

Families looking for immediate rewards in the form of cash-back have some great credit card options.

Swiping the right card could mean extra discounts on all of your family’s purchases.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ sure does pack quite a punch — especially for a no-annual-fee card.

The Freedom Flex card is an incredible option for those looking for a well-rounded cash-back card, or a powerful point-earner when paired with a premium card in the Ultimate Rewards family.

• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
• Powerful cash-back earner: 5% back on quarterly categories and travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on all other purchases
• No annual fee
• Excellent cell phone insurance
• Ability to pool points
• Mastercard World Elite benefits
• 3% foreign transaction fees in U.S. dollars
• Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards ® , our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex℠ card
• Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
• Member FDIC

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• APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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The Freedom Flex card has no annual fee and earns a lot of cash-back for your family.

With 5% back on rotating quarterly categories and 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, the card makes a lot of sense for a lot of families.

Citi Double Cash ® Card

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

The Citi Double Cash ® Card  has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!

This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points . This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.

Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.

• Uncapped 2% for every $1 spent (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay)
• Flexible redemption options
• No bonus categories
• 3% foreign transaction fees
• Lack of premium travel benefits
• Bonus Offer: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou ® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
• To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
• Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
• If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
• There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
• Citi Double Cash ® Card Travel Portal Limited Time Offer: Earn a total of 5 ThankYou Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental, and attractions, excluding air travel, when booked through the Citi Travel SM portal on ThankYou.com or by calling 1-800-Thankyou and saying “Travel.” Offer is valid through 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) 12/31/2024.
• APR: 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 19.24% - 29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase

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The Double Cash card has been a popular credit card for families for a long time, and for good reason.

This card earns unlimited 2% cash-back on every purchase : 1% when you buy, and another 1% when you pay your bill. That means no chasing after bonus categories, just spending and earning.  This makes it an easy choice for rewards and ease of use for families.

There is nothing like taking a special family vacation that will create memories for a lifetime…but sometimes the costs be prohibitive.

Fortunately, some of our favorite cards earn points that can help you greatly reduce or even eliminate some of those expensive travel costs — and even make travel a little bit more comfortable!

Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide
• $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel portal
• 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
• Excellent travel and car rental insurance
• 10% annual bonus points
• No foreign transaction fees
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 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℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 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, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
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The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a great card for families who want to focus on their next family vacation.

This card earns 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, so regular monthly expenses can quickly boost your balance. And when you’re ready to hit the road with the kids, just transfer those points over to one of the many Chase transfer partners or book via the Chase Travel Portal .

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card   is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• No foreign transaction fees ( rates & fees )
• Access to Capital One transfer partners
• $95 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Limited elite benefits
• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

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The CapitalOne Venture card is one of the most straightforward, easy-to-use rewards credit cards available. That means less time doing math and more time enjoying vacations with your family!

You will earn 2x miles on every purchase and you can use those miles to redeem for travel through the Capital One Travel Portal or transfer them to one of the many transfer partners.

When you and your family travel, you can enjoy a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit, travel assistance, and more!

The Platinum Card ® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card ® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card  is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access , hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
• Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment ( airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit )
• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
• Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
• Access to Amex International Airline Program
• No foreign transaction fees ( rates and fees )
• $695 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card ® , Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts ® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card ® . The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card ® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card ® . Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card ® .
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card ® . Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
• $189 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card ® . Learn more.
• $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck ® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card ® . Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card ® . That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card ® . An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card ® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.
• APR: See Pay Over Time APR

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The Amex Platinum card is a premium card from Amex, which means it carries a hefty annual fee, but also has a long list of benefits that many families should be able to take advantage of.

From bonus points to statement credits and lounge access, this card has a lot to offer families.

Although the annual fee is staggering, new card members may be targeted for welcome bonus offers as high as 100k to 150k Amex points !

If you’re looking to take some luxurious family vacations, the Amex Platinum card would fit nicely in your wallet.

If you’re like many families in the U.S., online shopping is a big part of your expenses.

The convenience of being able to order almost anything online and have it delivered to your door means you can spend less time shopping and more time with your family.

If you want to maximize your rewards when you click “add to cart,”, check out these cards.

Prime Visa Card

A strong rewards card if you shop regularly at Amazon.com and Whole Foods.

We all do our fair share of shopping on Amazon, some of us more than others, and when we shop with Amazon, we obviously want to get the best deal possible. Now, with the Prime Visa Card , you can add a credit card to your wallet that will help you do just that.

You’ll not only earn rewards on all of your Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, but on 4 other bonus categories as well, along with flexible redemption options, all for no annual fee!

When you consider everything that the Prime Visa card offers, it is basically a no-brainer for those who frequently shop with Amazon . Let’s dig a little deeper to see just how much the card can save you.

• Earn 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
• Earn 2% back at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
• Earn 1% back on all other purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• Purchase protection/extended warranty protection
• Amazon Prime membership required
• Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members
• Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership
• Earn unlimited 5% back on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
• Earn unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
• Earn unlimited 1% back on all other purchases
• No annual credit card fee
• No more waiting. Redeem daily rewards at Amazon.com as soon as the next day
• APR: 19.49% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: $0
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The Prime Visa card is a no-brainer for families who shop on Amazon .

The card offers a whopping 5% cash-back at Amazon, Whole Foods Market, and Chase Travel (with a Prime membership) , plus 2% cash-back at restaurants, gas stations, and on local transit and commuting purchases.

For no annual fee, this credit card is a family favorite.

Blue Cash Everyday ® Card from American Express

This cash-back card offers a capped 3% at U.S. supermarkets, 3% at U.S. gas stations, and 3% on U.S. online retail purchases!

When it comes to cash-back credit cards, there are dozens of options to choose from. So what sets the Blue Cash Everyday ® Card from American Express  apart from the rest?

This card is excellent at earning cash-back on your everyday purchases at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and on U.S. online retail purchases. So if you regularly spend money on everyday purchases, this could be the perfect card to add to your wallet.

• 3% back on purchases at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.
• 3% back on purchases at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.
• 3% back on purchases on online retail purchases on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1% back after.
• Monthly credit towards The Disney Bundle
• Monthly credit towards Home Chef
• Rewards are not flexible and can only be redeemed for cash-back. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
• Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• No Annual Fee.
• Balance Transfer is back! Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 19.24% to 29.99% variable APR.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
• 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
• Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
• Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Everyday ® Card. Enrollment required.
• Enjoy up to $15 back per month when you purchase a Home Chef meal kit subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday ® Card.
• APR: 19.24%-29.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 15 months
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
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The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card is a great everyday cash-back card for families.

This no-annual-fee Amex offers 3% back on online purchases, as well as gas stations and groceries! Those are popular categories for many families.

Plus, the card comes with monthly credits toward the Disney Bundle and Home Chef. And don’t forget about other benefits of having an American Express card, such as purchase protection and access to Amex Offers .

Gas and groceries are easily the biggest spending categories for many families. If you’re spending that money anyway, why not get rewarded for it?

Some of our favorite credit cards for families earn big bonuses on these categories, which means more money and more points in your pocket!

American Express ® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

The American Express ® Gold Card  is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
• Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com , Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
• Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash : get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees )
• Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
• Access to American Express transfer partners
• $250 annual fee (see rates and fees )
• No lounge access
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards ® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express ® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.
• Find the Amex Gold 75k or 90k Welcome Bonus Offer
• Benefits of the Amex Gold
• Upgrade Amex Gold to Amex Platinum
• Amex Gold Benefits for Military
• Amex Gold vs Blue Cash Preferred
• Amex Platinum vs Amex Gold
• Amex Gold vs Delta Gold

The Amex Gold card is a go-to card for food lovers. This iconic card earns 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets — that can add up to big rewards!

With this card, you’ll get up to $120 in annual dining credits and up to $120 in annual Uber Cash — not bad! The annual fee may scare some families off, but if you can use the benefits, it can easily pay for itself.

Blue Cash Preferred ® Card from American Express

This card is great for those who want to earn cash-back with U.S. supermarkets, U.S. streaming subscriptions, transit, and U.S. gas stations.

The Blue Cash Preferred ® Card from American Express is a stellar cash-back credit card for those looking to maximize every purchase they make.

With bonus categories like U.S. supermarkets, select streaming services, U.S. gas stations, and transit purchases , this card rewards you for the items you spend the most on in a big way! For those looking to earn up to 6% cash-back on their purchases , this could be the card for you!

• 6% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year) and on select streaming services
• 6% cash-back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
• 3% cash-back on U.S. gas stations and transit (including rideshares, parking, etc.)
• 1% cash-back on all other purchases
• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
• Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It ® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
• Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.24% - 29.99%. Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%.
• 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
• 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
• 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
• 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
• Get up to $120 in statement credits annually when you pay for an auto-renewing subscription to Equinox+ at equinoxplus.com with your Blue Cash Preferred ® Card. That’s $10 in statement credits each month. Enrollment required.
• Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Preferred ® Card. Enrollment required.
• APR: 19.24%-29.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months

Redeem cash-back through your American Express account

• Find the Amex Blue Cash Preferred $300 Welcome Bonus Offer
• Find The No Annual Fee Welcome Bonus Offer for the Amex Blue Cash Preferred
• Benefits of the Amex Blue Cash Preferred
• Streaming List for the Blue Cash Preferred
• Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Amex Blue Cash Preferred
• Best American Express Credit Cards
• Best Credit Cards for Couples

If you’re looking to earn some cash-back on your grocery purchases, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card is one of the best options.

This card earns 6% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year) and on select streaming services, plus 3% cash-back at U.S. gas stations and on transit.

With a nice little welcome bonus and no annual fee for the first year, this credit card is a great option for many families.

Citi Premier ® Card

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.

The Citi Premier ® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!

• 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
• Access to Citi transfer partners
• Annual hotel credit
• $95 annual fee
• Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou ® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou ® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
• 60,000 ThankYou ® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
• APR: 21.24% - 29.24% Variable
• Benefits of the Citi Premier
• Authorized User Benefits of the Citi Premier
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Citi Premier Card [Detailed Comparison]
• Best Virtual Credit Cards

The Citi Premier card is an excellent option for families looking for a card with good earning rates that they can redeem for family travel.

Earning is simple and uncapped, with great 3x bonus categories at gas stations, supermarkets, and restaurants, and on airfare and hotels.

The big welcome bonus and small annual fee make this a go-to for many families.

Costco Anywhere Visa ® Card by Citi

The Costco Anywhere Visa ® Card by Citi is a great Citi’s cash-back rewards card designed specifically for Costco Members.

• Discover one of Citi’s best cash back rewards cards designed exclusively for Costco members
• 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter
• 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases
• 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• No annual fee with your paid Costco membership and enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases
• Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico
• APR: 20.49% Variable

Costco fans, rejoice! There is a card here for you and it has no annual fee with your paid Costco membership.

The Costco Anywhere card earns 4% cash-back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter. Plus, get 3% cash-back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases. Those are some great rates for a card that has no annual fee beyond your Costco membership.

And let’s not forget that it earns a solid 2% cash-back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com.

As a parent, it’s easy to see how almost any of the cards listed above could be ideal for everyday spending.

But if you need another option to earn great rewards on anything that doesn’t fit into major rewards categories, here you go!

Chase Freedom Unlimited ®

This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

The Chase Freedom Unlimited ® is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. There aren’t many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer multiple great bonus categories like 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.

When paired with other Chase cards in the Ultimate Rewards family, you can transfer that cash back into points if you wish – making it one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet.

• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
• 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
• 1.5% back on all other purchases
• Earn big on travel purchased through Chase Travel
• Everyday bonus on dining and drugstores
• Straightforward cash-back on all other purchases
• 3% foreign transaction fee
• INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
• Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited ® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
• APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
• Benefits of the Chase Freedom Unlimited
• Chase Freedom Unlimited Requirements and Credit Score
• Car Rental Benefits of the Chase Freedom Unlimited
• Best Instant Use Credit Cards

The Freedom Unlimited card is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards available for families.

This card will earn 3% cash-back on dining and drugstore purchases , and then 1.5% back on everything else — for no annual fee! You can even score 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards!

And if you already have a Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning credit card, you can receive that cash-back as UR points instead. So you can earn 3x to 5x points on your purchases, which is really good.

We get it, it’s not all diapers and gas station trips for your family. Sometimes you need to go out and have some fun.

If you want to maximize your rewards, take a look at these dining and entertainment cards for families.

Capital One SavorOne Rewards Credit Card

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One SavorOne card is a great no-annual fee card for those who regularly spend on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart ® and Target ® ).

The Capital One SavorOne card is a phenomenal option when it comes to no-annual-fee cash-back credit cards. With popular bonus categories like dining, grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart ® and Target ® ), entertainment, and popular streaming services, and the ability to earn 3% cash-back on these purchases, it is easy to see why those who use the card can earn some serious cash-back throughout the year.

The card also offers the ability to take your rewards and experiences even further by offering access to Capital One Travel, Capital One Dining, and Capital One Entertainment.

• 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
• 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• 5% cash-back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 3% cash-back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart ® and Target ® )
• Access to Capital One Dining, Capital One Travel, and Capital One Entertainment
• Rewards are purely cash-back, so there is no access to outsized travel rewards redemptions
• Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
• Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart ® and Target ® ), plus 1% on all other purchases
• Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
• Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
• No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
• 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
• No foreign transaction fee
• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
• Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards
• Best Credit Cards for Entertainment Purchases
• 10 Best Ways To Earn Lots of Capital One Cash-back Rewards
• Capital One Launching Capital One Entertainment

We’ve got your budget in mind with the Capital One SavorOne card because this card packs in big rewards with no annual fee ( rates & fees ).

Not only does the Capital One SavorOne card earn a very respectable 3% cash-back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart ® and Target ® ), restaurants, entertainment, and even popular streaming services, but it also earns 10% cash-back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases and 8% cash-back on Capital One Entertainment purchases!

Plus get 5% cash-back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel on your family vacations.

Disney ® Premier Visa ® Card

Disney ®  Premier Visa ® Card

2% back Disney Rewards Dollars at Disney, gas stations, grocery stories, and restaurants means more rewards dollars for Disney fans.

Mickey and his friends are like part of the family. Your kids can recite the words to everything from Aladdin to Toy Story. And there’s no question where you’re going on Spring Break (Space Mountain, anyone?).

As a premier Disney fan, you always have the Disney ® Premier Visa ® Card on hand. It earns you cash back and discounts at Walt Disney World , Disneyland, and more.

• Save 10% on select purchases at shopDisney.com when you use your card
• Earn 5% in Disney Rewards Dollars on purchases at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or ESPNPlus.com
• Earn 2% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and most Disney U.S. locations
• Earn 1% on all other card purchases
• Redeem Rewards Dollars for a statement credit towards airline travel
• Get a one-year complimentary DashPass if activated by 12/31/24
• Does not earn transferrable rewards
• Has a foreign transaction fee
• Earn a $400 Statement Credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Earn 5% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases made directly at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or ESPNPlus.com. Earn 2% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and most Disney U.S. locations. Earn 1% on all your other card purchases. There are no limits to the number of Rewards Dollars you can earn.
• Redeem Rewards Dollars for a statement credit toward airline purchases.
• 0% promo APR for 6 months on select Disney vacation packages from the date of purchase, after that a variable APR of 19.24% - 28.24%
• 10% off select merchandise purchases at select locations and 10% off select dining locations most days at the Disneyland ® Resort and Walt Disney World ® Resort.
• Save 10% on select purchases at DisneyStore.com
• APR: 19.24% - 28.24% Variable

Disney Rewards

Disney fans, this one is for you.

If you want to earn Disney Dollars, the Disney Premier card is the fastest way to do it.

This card earns 2% in Disney Rewards Dollars on purchases at grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and most Disney locations. For families, that can add up quickly and be a great way to visit Walt Disney World for cheap or even free.

Plus you can earn 5% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases made directly at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or ESPNPlus.com.

The Upgraded Points team constantly analyzes and performs real-world testing of the most popular cards on the market. We do this to help our millions of readers make important decisions about which cards they put in their wallets, and we use our “ U.P. Rating ” to make that process easier for them.

We analyze many factors including benefits, earning structure, welcome bonuses, fees, redemption value, APR, and credit-building features.

For our best cards for families’ choices, we take all of those insights and then filter them even further so we are left with only cards that provide maximum returns on common family expenses, with justifiable annual fees (if necessary), and high ease of use when it comes to redeeming rewards.

Families looking to get cash-back, free flights, hotel nights, or travel perks from their everyday spending have no shortage of options when considering credit cards in the United States.

Finding the balance between annual fees and benefits is something that each family will need to look at and evaluate individually. Hopefully, we have laid out your best options clearly.

If you’re looking for even more information on making the most of family travel, explore our Family Travel section to make all your vacations stress-free and point-earning!

The information regarding the Capital One SavorOne Card Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday ® from American Express, click  here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click  here . For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred ® Card from American Express, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best credit card for families.

Depending on your individual goals, there could be multiple cards that work for you and your family. Whether you like cash-back, travel domestically or internationally, want to stay at luxury hotels, or stretch your points at budget hotels, we have all of your options laid out clearly with all of the important information you need to make your decision!

What is the best everyday credit card for my family?

We’ve reviewed every credit available in the U.S. market and picked out our favorites for you. Depending on how much you spend, there may be multiple options that could be a good fit. Some premium credit cards come with an annual fee of over $500, but they could be worth it if you use all of the benefits! Scroll up and read our review!

What is the best cash-back credit card for my family?

Getting cash-back on your purchases is like stacking coupons and getting an instant discount on every purchase. Depending on where you shop the most, the right credit card for your family may vary. Take a look at our list here.

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About Chris Hassan

Chris holds a B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management and managed social media for all Marriott properties in South America, making him a perfect fit for UP and its social media channels. He has a passion for making content catered toward family travelers.

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card is one of our top picks among the best travel credit cards for families because it has a relatively low $95 annual fee, earns flexible travel rewards, and provides up to $50 credit each year for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel℠.

But you might opt for a card like the Bank of America ® Travel Rewards credit card if you want a $0 annual fee, or a card like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card if you want airport lounge access for the whole family.

Let’s explore the best travel credit cards for families to see which card works best for you.

Key takeaways

The best travel credit cards for families, comparison of the best travel credit cards for families, how to choose the best family travel credit card, best travel credit cards for families: bottom line, methodology.

• The best travel credit card for your family depends on your spending habits and travel preferences. Our recommendations include cards with no annual fees, cards with airport lounge access and other premium travel benefits, and cards that can help you earn travel rewards on your everyday spending.
• Our top recommended travel credit card for families is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card because it’s easy to use and can help you earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which we prefer because of their flexibility and potential value.
• Most of our top picks are cards that charge no foreign transaction fees, which means you can use them abroad (where accepted) without worrying about this additional cost.

Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card

Chase freedom unlimited ®, capital one venture x rewards credit card, bank of america ® travel rewards credit card, american express ® gold card, the platinum card ® from american express.

• Citi Premier ® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is an excellent all-around family travel card with a relatively low $95 annual fee.

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Rewards rate: Earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases.

Why we like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card

The Sapphire Preferred doesn’t have foreign transaction fees, and its $95 annual fee makes it worth hanging onto. This is especially true if you take advantage of its up to $50 annual statement credit for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel℠.

Additionally, you can benefit from the 25% elevated value when you redeem your rewards points for travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal. You can also transfer your points to one of over a dozen Chase transfer partners , including Air Canada, Southwest Airlines, and Hyatt.

You can pair the Chase Sapphire Preferred card with the Chase Freedom Unlimited card to earn even more rewards that you can redeem for travel.

You can combine rewards between certain Chase credit cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, including the Sapphire Preferred, Freedom Unlimited, and other cards. This method is unofficially known as the Chase trifecta.

Learn more about the Chase trifecta and how it works.

What we don’t like about the Chase Sapphire Preferred card

There’s a $95 annual fee, but it’s likely not a big deal if you can get enough value from the card’s rewards and benefits. The Sapphire Preferred doesn’t offer some of the luxury benefits found on premium travel cards either, such as airport lounge access.

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred review for more details.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited card makes sense for earning travel rewards on your everyday expenses.

Welcome offer: Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).

Rewards rate: Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Why we like the Chase Freedom Unlimited card

The Freedom Unlimited has a $0 annual fee and provides ample opportunity to earn travel rewards on purchases you might already be making. You can redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards points for flights, hotel stays, and more through the Chase travel portal.

What we don’t like about the Chase Freedom Unlimited card

You have to pay foreign transaction fees with the Freedom Unlimited, which means it’s not the best card to use on purchases if you’re traveling abroad.

Read our Chase Freedom Unlimited review for more details.

The Capital One Venture X card can help your family travel in style with multiple premium travel benefits.

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Rewards rate: Earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25.

Why we like the Capital One Venture X card

The Venture X provides outstanding airport lounge access for groups, typically giving you and two guests complimentary access to Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and Capital One Lounges (depending on availability).

In addition, you can add authorized users to your Venture X card for free. If eligible, they receive the same airport lounge benefits. So in a situation where two parents have Venture X cards, you could bring a total of six people into applicable lounges. That’s two cardholders and four guests.

What we don’t like about the Capital One Venture X card

Premium travel credit cards typically have high annual fees, and the Venture X is no exception. You have to pay a $395 annual fee, but the card’s perks and benefits could more than offset this cost, especially if you take advantage of the $300 annual credit, and the 10,000 anniversary miles.

Keep in mind that the $300 annual credit only works for bookings through Capital One Travel. That means you can’t use it for bookings made directly with airlines, hotels, or car rental companies.

Read our Capital One Venture X review for more details.

The Bank of America Travel Rewards makes sense as a simple and straightforward card for earning travel rewards on everyday spending.

Welcome offer: Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.

Rewards rate: Earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases.

Why we like the Bank of America Travel Rewards card

The Bank of America Travel Rewards card has a $0 annual fee. The card has a simple rewards rate and doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. You can also boost your earning potential by 25% to 75% if you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member.

When you compare credit cards , you will notice that this is an exclusive benefit with Bank of America, and it can help you get a lot more value out of your card. For example, spending $5,000 would net you 7,500 points. If we value each point at one cent, 7,500 points would be worth $75.

However, if you can earn the 75% boost, you would end up with 13,125 points instead, or $131.25. That’s an additional $56.25. Keep in mind that the 75% boost requires you to have at least $100,000 in a three-month combined average daily balance between Bank of America deposit and investment accounts.

Additionally, the Bank of America Travel Rewards card provides two long intro APR offers:

• Intro APR on purchases: 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases (then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable)
• Intro APR on balance transfers: 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable)

What we don’t like about the Bank of America Travel Rewards card

You can’t take advantage of any bonus categories, such as earning higher rewards rates on groceries, gas, or travel.

It’s also not the easiest to become a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, as it requires an active and eligible Bank of America checking account, as well as a three-month average combined balance of at least $20,000 in eligible Bank of America deposit and/or Merrill investment accounts to earn the smallest boost of 25%.

Read our Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card review for more details.

The Amex Gold card makes sense for foodies and if you want to earn travel rewards on everyday purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.

Rewards rate: Earn 4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X) and at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases.

Why we like the American Express Gold card

The Amex Gold’s rewards rate makes it an amazing card for boosting your travel rewards on common expenses. In addition, you can take advantage of two annual credits.

• Dining credit: Earn up to $10 in monthly statement credits (up to $120 per year) for eligible purchases made with your card at GrubHub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, and more.
• Uber Cash: Add your card to your Uber account and receive up to $10 in Uber Cash each month (up to $120 per year) that can be used for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S.

You need to enroll to receive these benefits, but the enrollment process is straightforward.

What we don’t like about the American Express Gold card

You have to pay a $ 250 annual fee. While you can work on offsetting the cost with the card benefits, it’s still money out of your pocket. You also don’t get airport lounge access with this card.

Read our American Express Gold Card review for more details.

The Amex Platinum is a premium travel card that can provide loads of value for your family with its many perks and benefits.

Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases on your new card in the first 6 months.

Rewards rate: Earn 5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Why we like the American Express Platinum card

The benefits and potential statement credits on the Amex Platinum are seemingly endless.

• Up to $200 airline fee credit per calendar year
• Up to $200 in annual statement credits for prepaid Amex Travel bookings through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection (requires a minimum two-night stay)
• Up to $155 plus applicable local sales tax per year Walmart+ credit
• Up to $240 ($20 back per month) annual digital entertainment credit
• Up to $200 ($15 monthly, plus $20 in December) annual Uber Cash (terms apply)
• Up to $189 annual CLEAR Plus credit
• Up to $100 ($50 semi-annually) annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit

Keep in mind that select benefits require enrollment.

You can also take advantage of airport lounge access for you and multiple guests (depending on availability) with Priority Pass and Escape Lounges. You receive complimentary airport lounge access to other lounge networks as well, but the guest access can vary. Select benefits require enrollment.

What we don’t like about the American Express Platinum card

You have to pay a $ 695 annual fee, which is more than most other credit cards. The Amex Platinum also doesn’t have great bonus categories for earning rewards on everyday purchases.

Read our American Express Platinum review for more details.

The Citi Premier card is an excellent option if you want to earn elevated rates of ThankYou Points on your everyday spending.

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening; Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.

Rewards rate: Earn 3X points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels; and 1X points on all other purchases.

Why we like the Citi Premier card

The rewards rate of this card features bonus categories that align well with the type of person who wants to earn additional points for travel-related purchases and everyday purchases they make on a consistent basis.

In addition, you can also take advantage of a hotel savings benefit each calendar year that provides $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when you book through thankyou.com.

What we don’t like about the Citi Premier card

The Citi Premier doesn’t have premium travel benefits, such as airport lounge access, and you have to pay a $95 annual fee.

Read our Citi Premier Card review for more details.

Consider these factors to help you choose the best credit card for family travel.

Welcome offer

A welcome offer or welcome bonus is often an easy way to earn bonus rewards soon after being approved for a new card. If you’re choosing between multiple similar credit cards, the card with the better bonus offer could offer you more value in the first year of having the card.

Earning potential

It makes sense to choose a credit card with bonus categories that align well with your everyday and travel expenses. This can help you earn more rewards on purchases you already make.

For example, you might choose a card that earns bonus rewards on gas purchases if you drive a lot or a card that earns more at grocery stores to get more value from frequent grocery trips.

You might also look into different hotel credit cards if you want to earn more rewards on your hotel stays with specific loyalty programs, such as Hilton Honors, IHG Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy. Note that some hotel cards provide free night certificates that are good for a complimentary stay each year.

Similarly, you could look into airline credit cards if you want to earn more rewards with specific airline loyalty programs, such as JetBlue TrueBlue or Southwest Rapid Rewards.

Some credit cards have annual fees, while others don’t. The cards with annual fees tend to have more benefits and/or better rewards rates, and they could be worth applying for if you know you’ll use the card’s benefits.

But it could also be worth looking into no-annual-fee credit cards if you don’t want to stress about paying what’s essentially a yearly membership fee for being a cardholder.

Foreign transaction fees

Frequent travelers typically have one (or multiple) credit cards with no foreign transaction fees on hand if they’re traveling abroad. Using this strategy for your international trips can help you save money since you wouldn’t have to pay unnecessary fees for your credit card transactions.

In many cases, foreign transaction fees cost an additional 3% for each applicable transaction, which can add up quickly depending on how many purchases you make.

Perks and benefits

Travel credit cards can vary with the types of benefits they offer, so it’s up to you to find a card with the benefits you want.

Depending on your travel habits and preferences, you might want access to airport lounges . But if you’re worried about plans changing or other common travel mishaps, such as lost baggage or getting into an accident with your rental car, you might want to consider credit cards with travel insurance .

Travel insurance benefits are commonly found on travel credit cards, especially premium cards with high annual fees. In some cases, credit card travel insurance could help cover expenses related to trip cancellation, flight delay, or another type of travel setback.

To learn more about how travel insurance works, check out our travel insurance guide .

What credit cards offer free authorized users?

Some credit cards offer authorized users for no additional fee, such as:

Some of the best credit cards for authorized users may have a fee, but in certain cases, the benefits the authorized user gets can help offset the fee.

Do authorized users get lounge access?

Authorized users on some cards receive airport lounge access, including the following:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve ® : Add up to three authorized users for $175 total.

How do I get free Global Entry for my family?

If you want complimentary Global Entry for your family, you can use credit cards that provide Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credits as a benefit, but keep in mind that many of these cards offer this benefit once every four or five years. These cards include the following:

• Southwest ® Rapid Rewards ® Performance Business Credit Card

We recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred as one of the best travel credit cards for families. It’s easy to use, earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points, and doesn’t have foreign transaction fees. And with a $95 annual fee, the Sapphire Preferred is worth hanging onto year after year.

For more of our top recommendations, check out our list of the best travel credit cards to find the right credit card offer for you.

To determine the best travel credit cards for families, we started by compiling a list of credit cards that offer travel benefits. We then evaluated several factors, including rewards rates, family-friendly benefits, annual fees, welcome offers, and foreign transaction fees.

Our next step was to provide an overview of credit cards that offer practical value and benefits for families looking to maximize their rewards and travel perks. We made sure to include cards suitable for various family travel needs.

It's important to note that our recommendations are not listed in any particular order, and our credit card selection is not exhaustive. Our goal is to provide a useful starting point for families researching credit cards to suit their individual needs and travel preferences.

Easy-to-Earn Unlimited Rewards

Card Details

Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases

• Earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases
• Longer intro APR on qualifying purchases and balance transfers
• No foreign transaction fees
• Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
• 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
• Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
• Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% - 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
• If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
• Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
• This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

on Bank of America’s secure website

Intro Offer

Why we like it

The Bank of America ® Travel Rewards credit card is great for individuals who enjoy earning rewards and traveling.

Cardholders will enjoy the flexibility to redeem points with no blackout dates and receive a statement credit to pay for travel and dining purchases.

Earn 1.5X points on all purchases everywhere, every time.

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5 Reasons the Chase Sapphire Reserve Is the Ultimate Family Travel Card

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Labeling any card the “ ultimate card ” for a specific use is a tough call. But when it comes to traveling with a family, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ® stands alone — and for good reason.

On balance, the Sapphire Reserve can make travel more affordable, frequent, and comfortable. We also consider it an excellent option for families serious about travel.

Here are five reasons why we think the Sapphire Reserve is the ultimate family travel card.

Page Contents

Help Offset the Annual Fee With a $300 Annual Travel Credit

Earn valuable ultimate rewards, accrue points faster with bonus categories, relax at a chase sapphire or priority pass airport lounge, shopping protections, travel coverage, final thoughts.

If there's one metric that separates a premium travel card from a non-premium one, it's the annual fee. At $550, the annual fee for the Sapphire Reserve is by no means cheap, but the card's headline perk immediately takes the sting off that otherwise high number.

The Sapphire Reserve‘s annual $300 travel credit is awarded each year that you carry the card, and it's ready to put to use as soon as you open your new account. The credit is simple to use, and there's nothing to activate. When you use the card on a purchase that codes as “travel,” you'll see a reimbursement within a few days. This process continues until you've used the entirety of the $300 credit.

Of course, “travel” is a broad category, but that's part of what makes the perk great. From airfare to toll bridges, sightseeing to tourist attractions, there's a high chance it counts as travel.

Family travel isn't cheap, but $300 can go a long way, depending on how you use it. The only downside with this perk is that there's a great chance you'll start using it before you know it — since so many things count as “travel.” Plus, you don't earn bonus points on travel purchases that are offset by this credit.

Related:  Premium Credit Card Perks That Are Great for Families

One of the best aspects of flexible rewards points is that their uses feel endless. Chase Ultimate Rewards are no different.

Ultimate Rewards showcase their value and versatility through the long list of Chase transfer partners . No matter what your family travel goals are, there's a strong chance you can make them happen with Chase points.

Chase partners with 11 airlines and three hotel loyalty programs, and you can move your Ultimate Rewards points to one of these partners at a 1:1 ratio. If you're lucky, you can take advantage of a transfer bonus and receive a higher return on your points transfers — meaning more travel for fewer points. And most transfers to Chase's partners are instant.

Booking award travel for a family might sound like a dauntingly expensive task, but it doesn't have to be. There are many practical airline award sweet spots for families , and you aren't confined solely to domestic flights to enjoy them.

As a refresher, here are all the airline loyalty programs you can move your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to:

And the hotel loyalty programs offer fantastic value as well.

Related:  Do Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Expire?

An integral piece of any credit card strategy is carrying cards that reward your spending in the best way possible. The more points you earn, the more you can travel with your family; it's as simple as that.

For travel- and food-loving families, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ® is an incredibly valuable companion. Cardholders earn 5X Chase Ultimate Rewards Points per $1 spent on flight reservations made through Chase Travel℠  and 10X on hotels and car rentals booked here. You'll also earn 3X Ultimate Rewards on dining at restaurants and through food delivery services, plus 10X on Chase Dining purchases. If your family routinely spends money in these categories, your points balance will grow quickly.

A small caveat: the 3X, 5X, and 10X categories only kick in after you've used the $300 annual travel credit. Until then, you won't earn Ultimate Rewards points on travel purchases.

Another consideration you'll want to make is that the Sapphire Reserve earns 1 Ultimate Rewards point per $1 spent on all other purchases. This isn't a great return, so you'll want to consider pairing the Sapphire Reserve with another Chase credit card that earns Ultimate Rewards points to maximize your earning potential on everyday purchases.

This way, you can take full advantage of all the leading benefits the Sapphire Reserve offers and avoid settling for a poor return on all non-bonused spending.

Related: Accumulate Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Quickly by Building a Credit Card Combo

If there's a better way to kick off a family vacation than spending quality time in an amenity-filled airport lounge, we'd love to hear it. Sapphire Reserve cardholders can access 1,300+ Priority Pass airport lounges , plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge , so you can relax before the runway at an incredible number of locations.

There aren't many Sapphire lounges in existence yet, but the few that are currently operating are stunning. If you're traveling through Boston (BOS) or Hong Kong (HKG), afford yourself and your family some time to explore them. Travelers transiting through or originating in Austin (AUS) also have access to the Chase Sapphire Terrace — a locally inspired outdoor space to fuel up pre-flight.

Unlike the Sapphire lounges, Priority Pass lounges are a dime a dozen. Priority Pass Select requires a one-time activation. Immediately after completion, you can access brand-affiliated lounges, restaurants, and cafes.

If you're the Sapphire Reserve ‘s primary cardholder, you and your authorized users can enjoy complimentary access to Priority Pass lounges with a maximum of two accompanying guests each. Additional guests will incur a $27 charge, which will be charged to your Sapphire Reserve.

Many credit cards offer Priority Pass lounge access, so you might take the line about “access may be denied if the lounge is at capacity” in the Sapphire Reserve ‘s terms and conditions to heart. To improve your odds of getting into a lounge, you might consider traveling at off-peak hours. While it's not a perfect science, it won't hurt your chances of getting in when lounges are less busy.

Related:  Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Club Boston Airport Review

Enjoy Extensive Travel and Shopping Protections

Although they aren't the flashiest of benefits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ® ‘s shopping coverage and travel protections are second to none. When you use the card, you can rest easy knowing you're covered before, during, and after your family trip.

The Sapphire Reserve‘s expansive shopping protections make it a clear choice for booking trips and paying for expenses while on the road. Here's a snapshot of some of the shopping protections you'll enjoy when you swipe the card:

• Return protection
• Purchase protection
• Extended warranty protection
• Zero liability protection
• No foreign transaction fees

Achieving peace of mind while traveling isn't always easy, but the Sapphire Reserve has you and your family's back if your family trip is turned upside down. No matter the reason, the odds are pretty good that there's some form of coverage for it. Whether the airline loses your bags, your rental car breaks down, or a family member gets sick before departure, you may be covered.

Here's the complete list of travel coverage offered by the Sapphire Reserve.

• Primary coverage via an Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• Trip delay reimbursement
• Travel accident insurance
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Baggage delay insurance
• Emergency evacuation and transportation
• Roadside assistance
• Emergency medical and dental benefit
• Travel and emergency assistance services

However, as with all insurance benefits, be sure to read the guide to benefits before assuming a specific incident will be covered.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Chase Sapphire Reserve ® Insurance Benefits

Plenty of cards offer big sign-up bonuses and flashy perks, but the best cards for family travel provide a robust mix of travel perks, purchase protections, and travel insurance, in addition to their high points-earning potential.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve ® delivers all these and more: a potent mix of best-in-class travel benefits, insurance policies covering the entire family, and the ability to rack up plenty of points via bonus points on travel and dining.

If your family is serious about travel, it's worth a look into the Sapphire Reserve. It could be the next great member of your travel group.

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck ®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
• Member FDIC
• 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
• 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 10X points on Chase Dining (including prepaid reservations and prepaid takeout purchased through Chase)
• 5X points on airfare purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 3X points on all other travel
• 3X points on dining at restaurants
• 1X points on all other purchases

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Is immediate family defined the same way on the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

In what context?

For travel insurance protection. Just wondering if the preferred will extend travel protection to the same categories of immediate family.

Many of the benefits apply to immediate family, but you’ll want to check the specific type of travel protection in the benefits guide. https://awardwallet.com/blog/master-list-credit-card-benefits-guides/

Great post! I currently have the Chase Sapphire Preferred but may look at upgrading for the lounge benefits alone. Anyone else found it a useful upgrade to go from the Preferred to the Reserve?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is an amazing, must have, credit card.

I really wish this card was available in Canada. Unfortunately, Chase seems to be exiting the Canadian market as their other cars (Marriott Rewards Visa) are in the process of being closed =/

Thank you. If I am within the 5/24 Chase limit one day, I’ll have to look into the Sapphire CArd options.

This card was good enough to get Citi to back down on competing in this space. That says something.

Excellent point!

I have the Chase Sapphire Preferred and I love it. However, I am always seeing the Reserved card on the short list of what ppl should have. I can see how this is an excellent card, but if I have young children, how does the lounge thing work if the lounge doesn’t allow children in? Even though the card allows you entrance it still looks like you must adhere to their rules, correct?

If a lounge doesn’t allow children, they simply can’t get in. You’ve got to adhere to the rules.

It’s hard not to like this card.

Great travel benefits to this card. Hoping for a better sign-up bonus to come along.

You’re not likely going to see an increased signup bonus on these cards anytime soon.

CSR all the way!!

I am using it daily. What a great card!

Nice perks but expensive and don’t like banking scandal around Chase

To each his own I suppose.

I would agree it is a great card.

I’m a huge fan of this card, but I never put much emphasis on the travel insurance until a couple weeks ago where it applied big time.

I can only imagine how much that value would increase if I was traveling with a family.

Great card and info. Awesome benefits that make AF with it IMO. Only wish they had not denied me during original promotion. Ughh…That chase 5/24. Maybe down the road.

Really wished that Chase did not exit from Canada…

This is absolutely the best card in my wallet.

Thank you for this information! Very helpful. Fingers crossed for a massive bonus points offer for all of us, soon!

Thanks Howie. So, then I think I have 2 options, assuming we keep renting the way we always have. 1. have him pay with another card in his name that also has primary (I think the Cap 1 Visa sig does as well) 2. add him as an AU on my CSR and have him charge the rental on his card. Guess I’m off to see what that will cost me on the CSR – this is a new card for me. Any other benefits he would receive by adding him as AU so that I can justify whatever it is?

cece, this post, and linked articles covers the relevant benefits. He gets his own priority pass membership and all the insurance protection as well.

Re #3 – Rental primary insurance. My CSR is in my name (embossed on card). We use it to pay for the rental cars. However, when we rent cars, it is my husband who handles the rental contract in his name and the driving -he is the named driver. I know the post says the policy covers “additional” drivers. But we never pay for an “additional driver” – he is it. Will we still be covered?

No, you would not be covered. Your husband would need to have a card in his name or you would need to rent a car and add him as an additional driver.

Does look like a good card to have!

if only it wasn’t so expensive! I think this would only makes sense for me if I travel more than 4 times a year.

Definitely worth switching from the CSP. A real game changer!

Good post! I knew about most of the benefits, but I wasn’t aware about the extent of the rental insurance and travel insurance. Does anyone have experience making a claim with Chase?

Great article! I agree.

The meal money in lieu of a club is quite a bonus.

Honestly I never imagined I’d be as excited over a credit card as I am with the CSR. An all-around great experience.

I am very enticed by this card and have been thinking of getting it for the past 1 month…I might just take the leap soon.

Very timely article, as I’m considering applying for this card! I just wish the signup bonus was back where it originally was at 100,000 (or even 75k)!

Hands down this is the best travel card. And I was lucky enough to get the 100,000 Ultimate Reward sign up bonus. Oh yes!

I don’t have this card yet but hope they will bring the 100K point bonus back.

I wouldn’t hold your breath.

Switching my wife to this card while I cancel mine. Double travel credits pay for itself!

what a great card to have. too bad 5/24 limits me to signing up for this.

A good card to consider! Thanks for the detailed info about it.

The ability to transfer points directly to the airline account of a household member is awesome. My GF and I got the Southwest Companion Pass this year, because I have the Chase SW Plus/Premier cards. But she has the CSR – so she can xfer her UR points to my SWA acct, where I book travel with them and add her as the companion. Otherwise I’d have to actually pay for my flights!

This is my favorite credit card, it is worth the annual fee for me.

Looks like a good card to have.

love the perks, getting set for a big trip, CSR card in hand!

I didnt know the insurances also covered family members. That alone could be valuable for some families.

Absolutely love this card — it’s changed the way I travel.

Totally agree. This is my go-to travel card. I love the perks!

I keep putting off switching to this card from my Sapphire Preferred because of the authorized user card fee. (The annual fee itself doesn’t bother me — the travel credit renders it very similar to the Preferred.). I think the additional benefits may be more than worth the extra expense.

That is why we moved everyone to the Sapphire Reserve — the additional benefits.

I’m definitely starting to think the same thing. Those extra benefits look like they outweigh the annual fee if you spend anything more than ~$500 on your card each year

I agree that that’s the way to evaluate it.

It’s my family’s top card. The unlimited Priority Pass guests and very easy to use $300 travel credit make it entirely worthwhile.

100% agree. The CSR is the primary card for both the wife & I. It’s extremely difficult to beat its suite of benefits & coverages.

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Tips For Family Trips

Start planning your dream trip today

5 Great Travel Cards for Families

Save Money / March 11, 2021 by Allison / 1 Comment This article may contain sponsored content or affiliate links.

If you have good credit and healthy spending habits, a good travel card can add hundreds of dollars to your travel budget every year. Applying for a second or third travel rewards credit card can help you get even more free travel and improve your credit score at the same time. 

Before I go on, here's some legal stuff you should know.

Tips for Family Trips and Your Best Credit Cards may receive a commission from card issuers for sending traffic to partner sites. This compensation may im pact how a nd whe re links appear on this site. This site does not necessarily include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions expressed here are mine alone.

Our credit cards are an essential tool in my travel toolkit. We use the rewards from these cards to get free flights and hotel rooms every year. We pay our bills in full every month and never pay interest, so the credit card companies basically pay us to travel when we use our cards for everyday expenses.

There are some GREAT sign-on bonuses available on all these cards right now. Some of them are double what they were when I signed up. It's a good time to try a new travel rewards card.

Ready to try a new card? These are the cards that I have personally used – and why I like them.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card from Chase is one of our newest credit cards, but it has the potential to become our #1 travel rewards credit card. It has a great reputation among travelers because Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to loyalty programs for Southwest, United, JetBlue, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG, and others. 

You can also book air travel, hotels, and more directly through the Chase travel portal – generally at a competitive price for a wide variety of options.

This card is a good first card for people who want to get started with travel rewards cards. We earned $600+ in travel points when we applied for the Chase Sapphire Rewards Card. Then the pandemic hit, so we haven't redeemed any rewards yet. But I'm excited about the possibilities.

Click HERE to learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred card .

Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express

The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express card was our first travel rewards card and it has been our most-used card for years. We chose it because we wanted to fly more often and Delta is the airline with the most flights from our home airport. 

We never earned enough air miles from flights alone to get free flights until we got this credit card and used it for everyday expenses. Now we earn free flights every year. Plus, we get free checked bags, priority boarding, and other perks every time we fly Delta.

The last time we cashed in SkyMiles was for flights to California for a cruise. Rewards from this credit card paid for three out of four of our roundtrip tickets, which saved us about $900. Plus, our card got us free checked bags, priority boarding, and upgraded Comfort+ seats.

Click HERE to learn more about the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express card .

Southwest Rapid Rewards

I have both the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier personal card. The personal card is new and our goal is to earn enough points to get a Companion Pass this year. It helped that we got an 80,000-point sign-on bonus.

The Southwest Companion Pass lets a second person fly free every time you book a Southwest flight. It's good for the rest of the calendar year in which you earn the pass and a full year after that!

Southwest has lots of flights from our home airport and never charges for checked bags, changes, or cancellations. It's early yet, but the Southwest Rapid Rewards card could become one of our favorite credit cards.

Click HERE to learn more about the Southwest Rapid Rewards cards .

Hilton Honors

I applied for our Hilton Honors American Express Surpass card when we got a new heater for our home. We could have paid in cash, but by paying for it with the new Hilton card, we also got hundreds of dollars in Hilton Honors points, Gold status, and more perks with Hilton Hotels. 

This was one of our preferred cards for a year. We built up our Hilton Honors points, earned a free bonus night in any Hilton hotel, got Gold status for a second year, and used our points for several free nights. 

By the time our annual fee came due again, we had moved on to a different preferred card and we downgraded this one to the fee-free version. But we still have over 100,000 Hilton Honors points (worth about $500) and we look forward to more free hotel nights. You can find Hilton hotels just about everywhere, which is one reason that we liked this card.

Click HERE to learn more about the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass card .

Disney Premier Credit Card

We have used the Disney Premier Credit Card from Chase card twice to save $200 on tickets to the Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland . This popular Halloween event is separately ticketed and costs my family of four more than $400.

The Disney Premier Credit Card currently offers a $250 statement credit after you spend $500 and pay the $49 annual fee. I applied for the card and used it to buy the tickets. The tickets covered most of the minimum spend and the statement credit easily made the annual fee worth it. 

We used the card on our Disneyland trip to get gift shop discounts and an exclusive character photo op. Then I paid it off and canceled it. We have used this credit card trick twice – several years apart – to save hundreds on Oogie Boogie Bash tickets.

If you're planning a Disneyland, Walt Disney World, or Disney Cruise trip, check out this card. The statement credit can save you $200 on your trip and get you extra discounts and perks in the park or on the ship. If you keep the card you can earn points to spend on Disney vacations or in Disney stores.

General Tips for Travel Rewards Cards

Take care of your credit and it will serve you well. Credit cards are a tool that can earn you free travel and improve your credit score. Here's how to get started.

Pay your balances in full EVERY MONTH

This is how you beat the system. Credit card companies pay you to travel only when you pay your credit card bills in full and pay no interest. When you carry a balance and pay interest (which is what most people do) you generally pay more interest than you earn in rewards.

Pay your bills ON TIME, every time

Forgetting a payment is expensive. The credit card charges an extra fee and it hurts your credit score. Set up automatic payments for at least the minimum payment and never pay late fees again.

Start with one good card

If you're new to credit cards and travel rewards, then start with one card  – either Chase Sapphire or a favorite airline or hotel card – that fits your travel style. Start putting everyday expenses on it and you'll quickly earn your first free flight or night.

Keep in mind that American Express isn't accepted as widely as Visa and MasterCard. If your primary card is American Express, make sure you also have a Visa or MasterCard in your wallet for backup.

Want more tips for using your credit card to get free travel? Check out this related article.

Related: How and Why to Get a Travel Rewards Credit Card

I consider myself to be a very casual “travel hacker” who doesn't spend much time figuring out all the points tricks or juggling a lot of cards. 

However, I think that using at least one good travel rewards card is a no-brainer for families who love to travel and have good credit and spending habits. It's so easy.

Your credit score is valuable – and it can work even harder for you. Put everyday expenses on your travel rewards credit card, pay your bills in full, and earn hundreds of dollars each year in free travel.

Happy travels!

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Nikola Webster

March 17, 2021 at 7:51 pm

I have Chase Saphire Reserved it’s my all time favorite for many reasons like priority pass, global entry etc. The biggest advantage I think is how flexible to spending portal is – you can literally spend the points any which way you want to 🙂 Nikki

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Looking for the Best Credit Cards for Family Travel? Check These Choices

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We’ve gotten deeper into traveling with points and miles, but I’v realized something critical: many resources out there don’t do a great job of tweaking their suggested travel credit card strategies to account for traveling with kids.

We love our kids and love exploring the world with them, but they are definitely takers rather than givers when it comes to the money side of travel. When you’re trying to figure out the best credit cards for family travel specifically, there are a few pain points to consider since kids can’t get their own credit cards (and can’t even be authorized users until they’re teens in some cases):

• Kids can’t earn miles through credit card sign ups or spending, so adults need to earn twice as many
• You’ll have to find award flights with enough seats for the whole family
• Many hotels outside of North America only have rooms with occupancy of 2 or 3 – and they’re strict about it
• Lounge access may only apply to the card holder (sometimes with one guest allowed)

So what’s a family to do? Be very strategic in choosing the best travel credit card for families and often have each adult in the family open the same card . In the list below I’ll share some of my top picks and which families they’re best for. Some of the best credit card for travel options have low or no annual fee, while some come with a hefty fee that can make sense if you’ll use the included benefits.

It’s good to keep in mind that the people who are constantly jetsetting around the world for free with points and miles are doing that by opening multiple new credit cards per year – and paying them in full every month . Every card they open comes with a huge sign up bonus in exchange for meeting a minimum spend within the first few months. Some of the minimum spends are higher or lower than others, so be honest with yourself about your finances and never spend more than you have or can afford just for the sake of earning rewards.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

There’s no one best family travel credit card, but I’ll start with one of the most popular options out there – and one that our family took around the world for two glorious years. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a solid family travel credit card because of the great benefits it provides:

• Priority Pass Select lounge access for the card holder and a guest (supposedly it includes two guests but in my experience many lounges don’t allow a second guest)
• Top-notch travel insurance
• Primary rental car insurance (which kicks in before your regular insurance)
• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee reimbursement every four years
• Earn triple Ultimate Rewards points on travel and restaurants

❗Many Chase credit cards earn Ultimate Rewards points, which are amazing . You can get great value by transferring them to partners like United, Southwest, KLM, British Airways, Hyatt and a dozen more. The flexibility to transfer to so many different programs is absolutely invaluable – often there’s availability on partner airlines like using British Airways to book discounted tickets to Hawaii on several US carriers. Mind blowing, right? There’s also the option to redeem them directly in Chase’s own travel portal, but that’s not usually the best way to use them.

It also comes with a healthy bank of points to start you off once you meet the minimum spending requirement – you can check the current offer here . It should be enough for one or two round trip flights between the US and Europe on KLM, several nights at an all-inclusive in Mexico or some other amazing adventure you can dream up!

The annual fee is a hefty $550, however your first $300 in travel expenses are automatically credited back on your statement every single year. That brings the annual fee down to $250. There are a bunch of non-travel credits and benefits thrown on there as well, but even without those we think it’s a fantastic option.

You can also add an authorized user for a reasonable $75 per year. Their spending will contribute to your bank of Ultimate Rewards points and they’ll get their own Priority Pass access (along with a guest). If you’re a two-parent family with two kids, one Chase Sapphire Reserve with one authorized user will get lounge access for everyone (plus all of the other benefits for the primary cardholder) for $625.

One great strategy in a two-parent family is to have both parents sign up for the Chase Sapphire Reserve . At the end of the first year, one of the parents can downgrade their card to a free Chase Freedom Unlimited card and get added as an authorized user on the Sapphire Reserve. You’ll earn two sign up bonuses, which can be combined across your household, you can both get TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, and everyone will still have lounge access all the time. But your annual fee after that first year will drop tremendously!

Chase Sapphire Preferred

If you like the sound of Ultimate Rewards points mentioned above but don’t travel enough to justify a huge annual fee, check out the Chase Sapphire Preferred . You can only get a Sapphire welcome bonus (for either card) once every four years and the Preferred was offering extra points when it was time for us to get a new one, so my husband and I each have this card now. Chase won’t let you have both Sapphire cards at the same time though you can upgrade if you want the lounge access and extra travel benefits of the Reserve.

The big upside to the Chase Sapphire Preferred is that you get the same or similar sign up bonus with a much lower annual fee. This is a great choice for a first travel credit card if you’re hesitant about paying big fees or if you don’t anticipate using lounge access very much. Even plenty of experts crown this as one of the best credit cards for travel!

It’s worth noting that the travel insurance on the Chase Sapphire Preferred is good but not as robust as the Reserve. You’ll also earn fewer points on travel purchases, so if you’re trying to have just a single travel credit card (as opposed to opening many) you won’t earn as many points going forward with the Preferred.

❗We also supplement our Ultimate Rewards points with lots of points from the excellent Chase Ink Business credit card series (except the Premier, don’t get that one). These earn massive sign up bonuses, and are perfect for spending on my business expenses. Most of our daily spending now goes on the Chase Freedom Unlimited , which has no annual fee and earns at least 1.5 points for every dollar we spend.

Southwest credit cards

While they may not be the most exciting or flexible travel options, if you’re a family that likes to travel within the US, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean you need to look at Southwest credit cards . With enough points earned during the year, you’ll be award a Southwest companion pass that allows you to bring a guest of your choosing on every single flight for just the cost of taxes.

Spring break in Hawaii ? Just $5.60 each way for my daughter’s ticket! President’s Day weekend at the beach? $5.60 for that too. Couples getaway to Nashville? I brought my husband for the same $5.60. There’s no limit to how many times you can use your companion pass and you can change your companion a few times per year.

Obviously this incredible deal is only relevant if Southwest serves an airport close to you. If it does, you should learn more about Southwest companion pass .

The 30 second summary of how to earn your companion pass is that you generally need to open two Southwest credit cards , first a business card and then a personal card. It doesn’t matter which one you choose from each set. Once you hit the very reasonable minimum spend requirement for both cards, you’ll be awarded a companion pass that’s valid for the rest of the year and all of the next year. The least expensive set is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business card – you can get them both at this link .

If you are an avid Southwest flyer, consider the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card on the personal side thanks to its $75 annual flight credit. Let me apologize on Southwest’s behalf for making the card names so similar .

It’s best to wait until ~November/December or the beginning of the year to apply for these cards, and be sure not to hit the spending requirement until the beginning of the year . That’ll get you basically two full years of free flights!

If you’re a two parent family with two or more kids, you can each do this and then bring the kids for free on every family vacation for almost two years!

Capital One Venture X

This is our newest family travel credit card and I’m excited to have it in our wallets! Why? The Capital One Venture X is the best credit card for family lounge access.

While the excellent Chase Sapphire Reserve allows one (or theoretically two) guests to enter Priority Pass lounges with the cardholder, Capital One Venture X takes it to the next level. Every cardholder gets to bring two guests but it’s free to add authorized users to your card and they get lounge access with guests too! You’ll also all get access to tons of Plaza Premium lounges around the world and the new set of Capital One lounges popping up.

Only one person in the household needs to get this card, but they can add anyone over 18. While Priority Pass has gotten more limited in the US over the last few years, it still offers a robust network overseas (Europe has twice as many and Asia has three times as many).

You’ll also get a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit, a $300 annual travel credit (which has to be redeemed through Capital One’s travel portal unfortunately), primary rental car insurance and more.

When you meet the spending minimum on the Venture X you’ll get a juicy sign up bonus ( current offer here ) that can be transferred to some great airline partners like British Airways, KLM, Turkish and more. As with Chase Ultimate Rewards, these flexible points can give you great value when you transfer them, even allowing you to book domestic flights through international partners. The Capital One transfer partners aren’t quite as strong for families (no Southwest, United or Hyatt) but still very good.

One particularly good transfer option for families is Vacasa, which is a vacation rental service that’s bookable with Wyndham points – and thankfully Wyndham is a Capital One transfer partner! It’s priced at 15,000 points per bedroom regardless of location. That means you could book a one-bedroom + sleep sofa on Maui for five nights just using your sign up bonus.

While the Capital One Venture X comes loaded with premium benefits, the annual fee is much lower than the comparable Chase Sapphire Reserve.

IHG One Rewards Premier

If your family travels a lot in the US, especially to places like National Parks , you might love the IHG One Rewards Premier card – and the nifty features it offers. In case you aren’t familiar with IHG, that’s the parent company of huge brands like Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express. They’re everywhere! Everyone has stayed at a Holiday Inn before, and they’re a solid choice for families thanks to free breakfast, rooms that accommodate the whole crew and usually pools on site.

The new IHG One Rewards Premier card stays true to the brand’s value roots. For just $99 per year you get:

• A big sign up bonus to start you off (the amount varies but it typically enough for at least four nights)
• Platinum Elite status (which landed us in a two-room suite on our Michigan road trip !)
• 4th night free when you redeem points for 3 nights
• Free night certificate every anniversary – you can combine with the 4th night free to make a 5 night trip

These are serious benefits for a card that only costs $99 per year! You can stretch your points at a Staybridge Suites in the US or splash out at an Intercontinental overseas. This would also be an ideal credit card for travel sports families, as those costs add up quickly and you can almost always find an IHG hotel near weekend tournaments.

If you plan to fly anywhere, this is the cheapest credit card that covers TSA PreCheck. Each adult needs to have their own PreCheck, so it could make sense for them to open their own IHG One Rewards Premier card at least for the first year. But plenty of miles and points experts rate this card a “hold” thanks to the free night certificate you’ll receive on every anniversary.

For more tips on making family travel affordable, but sure to read our budget travel articles . They’re loaded with actionable tips to help you travel more while spending less!

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Best credit cards for traveling with kids in 2024

Jan 3, 2024 • 16 min read

Here's how to maximize your savings and perks on your next adventure with the whole family © pixdeluxe / Getty

This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy .

Advertiser Disclosure:  This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. This relationship may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers.  All information about the Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card, the Citi Premier Card and the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card has been collected independently by Lonely Planet. These cards are not available through Lonely Planet.

Traveling with kids is an exciting and rewarding experience but can also be expensive. To help make the trip more affordable, many families opt for credit cards that offer rewards and benefits specifically tailored to travel.

A good family travel credit card should provide a generous welcome bonus redeemable for flights, hotels and other travel-related purchases. It should also offer recurring benefits such as free checked bags, flight and hotel discounts and no foreign transaction fees. These features can help make your family’s vacation more affordable by reducing the cost of airfare and accommodations while abroad. 

In addition to these perks, some cards offer additional benefits such as priority boarding or airport lounge access. This can be especially helpful for families traveling with young children who may need extra care when boarding a flight or waiting at the airport. 

When selecting a credit card for family travel, it’s important to compare your options carefully to find one that best meets your needs. Be sure to look for cards that offer generous welcome bonuses and recurring benefits like free checked bags or no foreign transaction fees so you can maximize your savings on each trip you take with your family.

How to get started with travel points and airline miles

Here are our top picks for the best credit cards for traveling with kids:

Best for discounted flights: Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card

• Best for family lounge access: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Best value for the annual fee: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

• Best for earning points: Citi Premier® Card
• Best for travel protections: The Platinum Card® from American Express *

Best for hotel stays: Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card

If you’re traveling with kids, you probably want a card that saves you money on flights. The Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card is an excellent way to save money on both paid and award tickets. 

While the Companion Fare is restricted to economy class tickets on Alaska Airlines, there are plenty of routes where this can result in massive savings. For example, flights to Hawaii can get pricey during the high season. Booking up to two companion tickets for just $99 plus taxes can translate to significant savings. 

The card can also help you book discounted flights using airline miles. The card earns up to 3 miles per dollar on various spending categories, plus a 10% annual rewards bonus. Alaska Airlines is part of the Oneworld airline alliance, meaning you can use your miles for flights on carriers like American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways and more.

Best of all, Alaska Airlines offers some of the cheapest award tickets within the Oneworld alliance. For example, you can book a domestic economy class ticket starting from 5,000 miles each way, costing you 7,500 miles with American Airlines. International flights also tend to be cheaper with Alaska Mileage Plan. A one-way business class ticket to Asia starts at just 50,000 Alaska miles instead of 60,000 American miles. Your miles can go far with the Alaska Airlines Visa card.

Welcome bonus: Buy one ticket, get one for just the taxes and fees and receive 60,000 bonus miles. To qualify, make $3,000 in purchases or more within the first 90 days of opening your account.

Rewards: Earn 3X miles spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases; 2X miles on eligible gas, cable, streaming services and local transit purchases; 1X mile on all other purchases.

Travel benefits: Get a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 in purchases; free checked bag and priority boarding for the cardholder and up to six guests; 20% back on Alaska Airlines inflight purchases when you pay with your new card; $100 off an annual Alaska Lounge+ Membership purchased with your Alaska card; 10% rewards bonus on all miles earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America account; no foreign transaction fees.

Credit score required: Good to excellent credit. 

Annual fee: $95.

• Earns valuable miles you can redeem with over a dozen airlines for travel worldwide. 
• The $99 Companion Fare is valid for up to two companions. 
• 10% bonus on all miles earned.
• Relatively low welcome bonus.
• Companion Fare is only valid on Alaska flights and requires $6,000 in credit card spending.

The best travel credit cards

Best for family lounge access: Chase Sapphire Reserve® 

Airports are packed to the brim these days, and airline lounges provide a welcome respite for families. Plenty of credit cards offer airport lounge access, but the Chase Sapphire Reserve ’s policy is more family-friendly. Cardholders receive complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which includes access for up to two guests and dining credits at participating restaurants in the airport. The latter is beneficial if you’re at an airport where the lounges get packed and prefer a quick meal over a long wait to enter the club lounge.

Priority Pass has around 30 restaurants at airports, and each eligible guest receives up to a $30 credit toward food and drinks. For a family of three, that amounts to $84 in dining credits, which you can apply to shareable meals if you have more than three guests in your party. 

The Sapphire Reserve also offers up to $100 for application fee credit every four years towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. The nice thing about PreCheck is that children aged 17 and under can usually go through the PreCheck line with their parents. So even though the Sapphire Reserve ’s fee credit only covers one PreCheck application, the benefit extends to children and can make family travel much more pleasant.

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Rewards: Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Travel benefits: Up to $300 in annual travel statement credits, including airfare, hotels and rental cars; get 50% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠; Priority Pass Select membership; application fee credit towards Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS every four years; travel protections including cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, primary rental car insurance (up to $75,000 in the US and abroad) and lost luggage reimbursement.

Credit score: Excellent.

Annual fee: $550 (plus $75 per authorized user). See rates and fees .

• Priority Pass Select membership includes lounge access for up to two guests. 
• The $300 annual travel credit partially offsets the high annual fee. 
• Points are worth 1.5 cents each in Chase Travel℠.
• High annual fee.
• $75 authorized user fee.
• Approval is subject to the Chase 5/24 rule, so you won’t be approved if you’ve opened five cards at any bank within the previous 24 months.

Chase Sapphire review: an in-depth look at the card loved by traveler

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is excellent for traveling with kids, thanks to its reasonable annual fee and recurring benefits. Cardholders can save on travel and have a more comfortable airport experience with the card’s two annual free lounge visits and up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Parents with TSA PreCheck can bring their children through the PreCheck line so that this benefit can work for almost the entire family. 

The Venture Card also comes with a six-month membership to The Cultivist, which provides complimentary museum admission to members and up to one guest. Many museums offer discounted admission for children anyway, but this membership can still save money for the adults in the family.

Factor in the Venture Card’s travel protections and massive welcome bonus (worth $750 towards travel) and it’s an excellent choice for families looking to save on and elevate their travel experience. The card also earns at least 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, making it ideal for earning miles without tracking spending categories.

Welcome bonus: 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

Rewards: Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2X miles on all other purchases.

Travel benefits: Two annual visits to Capital One and Plaza Premium lounges, six months complimentary The Cultivist membership, up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, Hertz Five Star status, travel accident insurance and rental car insurance.

Credit score: Good to Excellent.

Annual fee: $95. See rates and fees .

• The welcome bonus is worth $750 towards travel.
• The Cultivist membership can help families save on museum admission.
• The card earns 2X miles on all purchases.
• The complimentary Cultivist membership is only valid for six months.
• Capital One pulls your credit from all three bureaus when you apply for this card.

Best credit cards for international travel

Best for earning points: Citi Premier® Card

The Citi Premier® Card is an excellent choice for families looking to maximize their daily spending. The card offers up to 3 points per dollar spent on dining, groceries, gas stations, air travel and hotel – with a majority of the average household's significant expenses earning 3 points per dollar spent, which is tremendous. 

Citi ThankYou points are immensely valuable – you can redeem them towards travel purchases at one cent each or transfer them to 17 hotel and airline programs. They include family-friendly programs like Wyndham Rewards and Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, which offer low rates on award travel. For example, Wyndham hotels start at just 7,500 points per night, while Turkish Airlines sells round-trip domestic tickets on United Airlines for just 15,000 miles round-trip. Whether you want to take the kids to Disney or a Hawaiian vacation, these low rates can help you stretch the card’s welcome bonus further. 

Welcome bonus: 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within three months of account opening.

Rewards: Earn 10X points on hotel and car rental bookings on the Citi Travel portal through 6/30/2024; 3X points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels; 1X points on all other purchases.

Travel benefits: $100 annual hotel savings benefit valid on a stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) booked through Citi ThankYou Travel; no foreign transaction fees.

Credit score required: Good to excellent.

Annual fee: $95. See rates and fees.

• Solid welcome bonus and lucrative bonuses on travel and everyday spending categories. 
• Excellent rewards program with a large selection of transfer partners. 
• Citi no longer offers travel protections on any of their cards.
• The $100 annual hotel savings benefit applies after taxes.

How to use points and miles to save money on travel

Best for travel protections: The Platinum Card® from American Express

You want added peace of mind when traveling with kids, which is why there's travel insurance. The Platinum Card® from American Express * delivers a comprehensive suite of travel protections, so you don’t have to buy a policy. Charge your travel expenses to the card, and you’ll receive up to $500 in trip delay insurance. If your trip is delayed by more than six hours, you can file a claim to have necessary expenses reimbursed (hotels, meals and ground transportation).

The card also provides up to $10,000 in trip cancellation and interruption coverage per trip. This coverage reimburses non-refundable travel expenses incurred due to interruptions or cancelations. For example, if you get sick before your trip and your flight is nonrefundable, Amex will reimburse you the total cost (assuming you have proof of illness).

The Platinum Card ’s rental car coverage is only secondary, meaning it doesn’t kick in until your own insurance company rejects your claim. But you can upgrade to a premium car rental protection plan for around $12.25-$24.95 per rental. Cardholders can also access the Premium Global Assist Hotline* when traveling more than 100 miles from home. This benefit provides 24/7 access to medical, legal, financial and emergency assistance – useful when traveling anywhere with kids, especially abroad.

Welcome bonus: 80,000 points after spending $8,000 within six months of account opening. 

Rewards: Earn 5X points on flights booked with airlines or American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1X); 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel; 1X points on everything else.

Travel benefits:  Trip delay insurance; trip cancellation and interruption insurance; secondary rental car insurance; premium global assist hotline; up to $1,500 in annual travel, dining and entertainment credits; upgrade to Hilton and Marriott Gold elite status; elite status with Avis, Hertz and National rental car; access to Amex’s Lounge Network; no foreign transaction fees.

Credit score required: Good to Excellent.

Annual fee: $695. See rates and fees .

• Comprehensive travel insurance.
• The high annual fee is offset by over $1,500 in travel protections.
• The 24/7 Global Assist hotline is a unique perk that can be useful for traveling abroad.
• Rental car insurance is only secondary.

The best credit cards with no international fees

Families traveling with kids often need multiple hotel rooms or entire homes to be fully comfortable. The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card is an excellent choice because the points can be used for hotel rooms, condos and vacation rentals. Free nights at Wyndham hotels start at just 7,500 points per bedroom, and you can stretch your points further with a cash and points award starting at 1,500 per night. Cardholders also receive a 10% discount on award night bookings, helping your points go even further. 

The low award redemption rates, point booking discounts and versatile stay options make Wyndham an excellent program for families. With the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card’s currency welcome bonus, you can book up to ten free nights, which is fantastic.

Welcome bonus:  45,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days of account opening. 

Rewards: Earn 6X points on purchases made at Wyndham hotels and gas purchases; 4X points on eligible dining and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target); 1X points on all other purchases (excluding Wyndham Timeshare resort down payments).

Travel benefits: Upgrade to Wyndham Rewards Platinum status, cardmember booking discount, annual 7,500-point bonus, no foreign transaction fees.

Annual fee: $75. See rates and fees .

• The welcome bonus is valid for up to 10 nights at Wyndham properties, which include vacation home rentals and hotels.
• Cardholders receive a 10% discount when redeeming points
• Automatic Platinum status includes practical benefits for families, like late checkout and early check-in.
• $75 annual fee.

Best credit cards for adventure travel

Should families traveling with kids get a credit card?

Families traveling with kids should consider getting a credit card for several reasons. First, using a credit card can help families save money by taking advantage of discounts and welcome bonuses. You can use these discounts to lower the cost of a family vacation or upgrade to a more premium experience. 

Credit cards also offer protection against fraud and theft, which provides added peace of mind. Many credit cards come with travel insurance, protecting families against trip interruptions, delays, lost luggage and more. While some travelers buy their policies, plenty of credit cards provide them free of charge when you charge your travel purchases to them.  

A credit card can also provide access to funds in an emergency. It’s also safer than carrying cash around or using a debit card, which often incurs fees of up to 3% when used abroad.

Whether families traveling with kids should get a credit card depends on their situation and financial goals. Understanding how credit works and being aware of potential risks before applying or a card is important.

The best credit cards for airline miles

How to choose the best travel credit card for travel with kids

When choosing the best travel credit card for your family, there are a few key factors to consider. First, ensure the card offers rewards that fit your family’s needs. If you fly frequently, look for cards with airline miles or transferable points. If you’re more likely to stay at hotels, look for cards that offer hotel loyalty points or discounts. Also, consider extra benefits like free checked bags, airport lounge access or hotel credits. 

Second, consider the fees associated with the card and how much they will offset any rewards you earn. Some cards require annual fees, which can significantly reduce the value of any rewards earned. Also, check if the card waives foreign transaction fees to maximize its value when traveling abroad. 

Finally, consider how easy it is to redeem rewards and if they can be used to lower your family’s travel costs. By considering these factors, you’ll be able to find a travel credit card that fits your family’s needs and helps make traveling with kids easier and more affordable.

TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry: A guide to picking the best one for you

What is the best card for family travel?

The best card for family travel will depend on your individual needs and preferences. Some of the best cards for family travel include the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card  and American Express Platinum Card . These cards offer a variety of rewards and benefits tailored to families, such as bonus miles, flexible redemption options, travel protections and more.

10 amazing hotels around the world you can book with points

Can I get a credit card for a family member?

You can get a credit card for a family member by adding them as an authorized user on your credit card. Some cards charge authorized user fees, so be sure to check the terms and conditions first. However, this will depend on the specific credit card issuer and their requirements. 

Traveling to Hawaii with points and miles

Is there a credit card for kids?

There are no credit cards for kids. However, American Express allows you to add children aged 13 and older as authorized users.

American Express Membership Rewards vs. Chase Ultimate Rewards

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

This article was first published August 2023 and updated January 2024

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The top credit cards for families

Families need many things: groceries, diapers, new shoes for growing feet, gymnastics classes, doctor's appointments — and, whenever possible, a relaxing vacation from it all.

Thankfully, the things your family needs (like groceries and checkups) can help pay for the things you want (like vacations or extra cash back), assuming you choose the right credit card.

In today's landscape, the best credit cards for families can do so much more than just present an opportunity to charge expenses. However, that requires managing credit cards responsibly. If you don't think that applies to your family just yet, consider reading these articles first:

• How to consolidate and pay off credit card debt
• The best way to pay your credit card bills

If your family manages credit cards responsibly and you're looking for a card that can add value to your life, let's look at the best credit cards for families and what benefits they can offer.

How we chose the best cards for families

While many of the popular credit cards generally considered to be best in class for all consumers will also be the same top cards for families to consider, families have needs that differ a bit from those without children. For example, families often spend more money

in certain purchase categories and need more flexible awards.

To determine the best credit cards for families, we looked at the top credit cards in three categories and looked for:

• The most flexible, valuable and easy-to-use rewards.
• Lucrative welcome bonuses.
• Cards that offer more than enough built-in benefits families can really use.
• Cards that earn extra cash back or bonus points in categories where families frequently spend money.

The best credit cards for families

• American Express® Green Card : Best for overall travel purchases.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Best for easy-to-use rewards.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card : Best for beginners.
• Citi Premier® Card : Best for low annual fee (see rates and fees ).
• American Express® Gold Card : Best for points on grocery purchases at U.S. supermarkets and dining out at restaurants.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card : Best for family air travel.
• JetBlue Plus Card : Best for pooling family points.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express : Best for travel luxuries and everyday perks.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card : Best for Hilton stays.
• World of Hyatt Credit Card : Best for Hyatt stays.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card : Best for Marriott stays.
• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card : Best for IHG stays.
• Citi Double Cash ® Card : Best for overall cash back (see rates and fees ).
• Chase Freedom Flex : Best for cellphone protection.
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express : Best for cash back on grocery purchases at U.S. supermarkets.

The information for the American Express Green and JetBlue Plus cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

As an added layer, we have also divided the cards into three sections — best travel credit cards, best hotel credit cards and best cash-back credit cards — so you can truly pick the card that helps you with your ultimate end goal. Note that current bonus values below are calculated by TPG and not the card issuers.

The best travel credit cards for families

Summer break, spring break, winter break and good old-fashioned weekend getaways present the perfect opportunities to travel with your family and create some lifelong memories .

When evaluating our best travel cards specifically for ones that are best for families, we went with the cards that offered the simplest (yet still rewarding) options that afforded as much flexibility as possible. However, we've added a luxury card at the end for any families looking for tons of perks at home and on the road.

American Express® Green Card

Current welcome offer: Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership.

Current bonus value: $800, according to TPG's valuations (including statement credit).

Standout benefits: Earn 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar on travel, transit and at restaurants and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

Annual fee: $150 (see rates and fees ).

Why it's worth it: You'll earn 3 points per dollar on an extremely broad travel category. The card also has annual statement credits of up to $189 for Clear Plus and up to $100 for LoungeBuddy . Both of these perks can come in handy when traveling with the family. It's also worth noting that children under 18 can access Clear for free when traveling with an adult who has a membership, adding further value to this perk. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

You'll also enjoy trip delay insurance that will cover round-trip flights. You'll be covered if you pay for the entire ticket with your card, use your card to pay the taxes and fees on award tickets or use Pay with Points . Membership Rewards points you earn on the card can then be transferred to over 20 airline and hotel partners .

Read TPG's review of the American Express Green Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Current bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Current bonus value: $1,388, according to TPG's valuations .

Standout benefits: Earn 5 Capital One miles per dollar on rental cars and hotels booked with Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. This card provides a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit (up to $100) and has no foreign transaction fees.

Annual fee: $95.

Why it's worth it: Along with earning rewards that are very flexible — you can redeem them against travel purchases you've made or transfer to 15-plus airline and hotel partners — the simplicity of the card is what many people love about it. Plus, Capital One miles can be transferred to some family favorites like Air Canada's Aeroplan (with great lap-infant award prices ) and Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles , which can save you a ton of miles when flying partner carriers, such as United Airlines .

Read TPG's review of the Capital One Venture Card

Official application link: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card with a 75,000-mile bonus offer after spending $4,000 within three months from account opening.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Current bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Current bonus value: $1,200, according to TPG's valuations .

Standout benefits: Earn 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase travel portal , 5 points per dollar on Lyft (through March 2025), 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases (excludes Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all travel not booked through the Chase travel portal and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

Cardholders enjoy a 10% anniversary points bonus each year, complimentary DashPass membership with DoorDash (activate by December 31, 2024), an annual $50 hotel credit and a slew of travel perks in case something goes wrong during your family's next trip.

Why it's worth it: It doesn't offer the bells and whistles of the similar (but more expensive) Chase Sapphire Reserve card, but the Chase Sapphire Preferred is still a great pick for earning bonus points on travel and dining and for enjoying some solid travel protections in the process — all while receiving a very valuable welcome offer. In fact, the Sapphire Preferred is still my most frequent recommendation to those new to miles and points .

In addition to transferring points to partners such as United and Southwest , you can also redeem the points directly through the Chase travel portal for 1.25 cents apiece, which is a nice feature for flights where you find a great cash deal. Plus, you can use your points to save money at theme parks like Universal Studios .

Whether you simply don't want to spend $550 a year to get the Sapphire Reserve or your credit score currently isn't high enough to qualify for that very premium card , the Sapphire Preferred remains a very solid option.

Read TPG's review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred

Official application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card with a 60,000-point bonus offer after spending $4,000 within three months from account opening.

Citi Premier® Card

Current bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Current bonus value: $1,080, according to TPG's valuations .

Standout benefits: For a limited time, earn 10x points per dollar on hotels, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ Portal through June 30, 2024. Earn 3 ThankYou points per dollar at restaurants (including takeout), supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels. Earn 1 point per dollar on everything else.

Similar to the American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards programs, Citi has agreements with airline transfer partners so you can transfer your Citi ThankYou points to various frequent flyer programs, sometimes with periodic transfer bonuses . The lineup of transfer partners isn't as U.S.-centric as you will find with Chase Ultimate Rewards, but some solid programs are available — like Avianca LifeMiles — as well as valuable hotel partners in Choice Privileges and Wyndham Rewards .

Annual fee: $95 (see rates and fees ).

Why it's worth it: At just $95 per year, the Citi Premier has been in my wallet for years. The bonus categories are valuable and relevant to families, with many common household categories included.

If you don't want to use points at a fixed value, you can transfer to some valuable partners which will truly allow you to explore the world. And while many of their partners are international partners, JetBlue is a domestic option, and families can pool their points together for award tickets with JetBlue.

Families can also take advantage of perks on the Citi Premier like a $100 hotel credit and protections for things you buy, like extended warranty and damage and theft protection .

Read TPG's review of the Citi Premier Card

Official application link: Citi Premier® Card with an 60,000-point bonus offer after spending $4,000 within three months from account opening.

American Express® Gold Card

Current bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first six months of cardmembership.

Standout benefits: The Amex Gold Card earns well in categories where many families spend a lot of money. Earn 4 points per dollar on dining at restaurants (including takeout and delivery within the U.S.), 4 points per dollar on up to $25,000 in purchases at U.S. supermarkets per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar), 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly from the airline or through the Amex Travel Portal and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

The card also offers up to $10 per month in dining credits , $10 per month in Uber Cash (which can also be used with Uber Eats) and up to $100 in hotel credits when booking with Amex's The Hotel Collection. Enrollment required for select benefits.

Annual fee: $250 ( see rates and fees ).

Why it's worth it: The American Express Gold Card beats most other cards for both U.S. supermarket expenses and when dining out at restaurants. The $250 annual fee is higher than some cards, but if you make use of the up to $120 in annual dining credits and up to $120 in annual Uber Cash , then the fee becomes much more reasonable for families to consider.

This is a card you want in your wallet if your family spends a good amount on eating — whether that comes in the form of groceries at U.S. supermarkets or meals at restaurants.

Read TPG's review of the American Express Gold Card

Official application link: American Express® Gold Card with a 60,000-point bonus offer after spending $6,000 within the first six months of account opening.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

Current bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Current bonus value: $700

Standout benefits: While this is the Southwest credit card that offers the most perks for families , there are a total of three personal Southwest cards , and all three can help you earn the Companion Pass each year. Having the Companion Pass allows you to designate a friend or family member to join you on Southwest flights for just the cost of taxes.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card awards a $75 Southwest travel credit each year, 7,500 bonus Rapid Rewards points at each anniversary and 25% back on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi. You'll earn 3 points per dollar spent with Southwest, 2 points per dollar at Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

Annual fee: $149.

Why it's worth it: Southwest Airlines is one of our favorite airlines when it comes to family travel, in part because its Rapid Rewards program is extremely straightforward for families to use. If your plans change, you can redeposit your award without penalty , making the points earned by the Southwest credit cards extremely useful for families tied to school schedules or who have plans that may change. Plus, everyone gets free checked bags when traveling with Southwest, which is huge for families.

Read TPG's review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card

Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

JetBlue Plus Card

Current bonus: Earn 50,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days of account opening.

Current bonus value: $650, according to TPG's valuations .

Standout benefits: Earn 6 points per dollar on JetBlue purchases, 2 points per dollar at restaurants and grocery stores and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

Cardholders get a free first checked bag (and so do up to three companions on the same reservation), a 5,000-point bonus on the account's anniversary each year, 50% back on inflight purchases, a 10% rebate on points redeemed for award flights and a $100 statement credit each year after purchasing a JetBlue Vacations package. You'll also enjoy cellphone insurance when using this card to pay your monthly mobile phone bill.

Annual fee: $99.

Why it's worth it: The JetBlue TrueBlue program allows family members to pool their miles together in order to earn award flights faster. The onboard JetBlue experience is top-notch for families, as it offers complimentary assigned seats, the most economy legroom among U.S. airlines, a free snack basket and both free DirecTV and gate-to-gate Wi-Fi for all passengers.

Families that want to take advantage of JetBlue's family-friendly programs and policies will benefit from having a JetBlue Plus credit card, both for the points it earns and the savings it can provide on JetBlue award flights, bag fees and onboard purchases. You can also earn JetBlue Mosaic elite status if you spend $50,000 or more on the card annually.

And with JetBlue now flying to Europe , this credit card will allow you to redeem those points to fly across the pond.

Read TPG's review of the JetBlue Plus Card

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Current bonus: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.

Current bonus value: $1,600, according to TPG's valuations .

Standout benefits: For those looking for a card offering premium perks while traveling and a plethora of benefits at home, this card has you covered.

You can take advantage of up to $200 in airline incidental credits per year , up to $200 in hotel credits per year , up to $200 in Uber Cash per year (which can also be used for Uber Eats), up to $240 in annual streaming and digital entertainment credits , up to $100 in annual credits for Saks Fifth Avenue , reimbursement for a monthly Walmart+ membership to get grocery delivery without extra fees, reimbursement for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee and reimbursement for your annual Clear Plus membership . Remember that you can bring children under 18 through the Clear lanes with you.

Cardholders have access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection , including Centurion Lounges , Priority Pass lounges, Airspace lounges, Escape lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (Effective February 1, 2025: Eligible Platinum Card Members will receive 10 Visits per Eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight). Cardmembers also get complimentary Gold status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy , elite status with several car rental programs and multiple shopping and travel protections .

Note that enrollment is required in advance for some benefits.

Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees ).

Why it's worth it: Many people balk at the high annual fee on this card, but it can be worth it if you take advantage of the card's benefits. Lounge access while traveling saves money against expensive food and drinks in airports, and lounges also provide a better place to pass the time during layovers. Your travel experience is also elevated by hotel elite status and breezing through airport security, due to credits for your program application fees.

Even when not traveling, you can enjoy access to free streaming services, grocery delivery perks, and annual credits for rideshare apps, dining and food delivery. Families looking for tons of perks will find them here.

Read TPG's review of the Amex Platinum Card

Official application link: The Platinum Card® from American Express with a 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.

The best hotel credit cards for families

Hotel credit cards can help your family score better rooms, eat free breakfast , enjoy resort credits or simply provide some automatic elite status that makes the stays away from home a bit more enjoyable. And that's true whether you simply need a room near the grandparents' house or you want to head off to resorts in Hawaii and beyond. Many of these cards even include a free night award each year you keep the card and pay the annual fee.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Current bonus: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the card within the first six months of card membership.

Standout benefits: Enjoy complimentary Gold status with Hilton Honors for perks like room upgrades and complimentary breakfast, fifth night free on award stays using points.

Annual fee: $150 annual fee (see rates and fees )

Why it's worth it: There are multiple Hilton credit cards, including the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Express Card (see rates and fees ) with minimal perks and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card with a fee of $550 (see rates and fees ) to justify its luxury perks and top-tier elite status .

Families looking for a card with a modest fee that provides real-world perks should look at the Surpass card because daily complimentary breakfast or food and beverage credits with Gold status can save your family a lot of money before heading out of the hotel to explore, visit a theme park or splash in the sea. Additionally, Gold elites can enjoy space-available room upgrades and don't pay resort fees when staying on award nights using points, resulting in hundreds of dollars saved on a resort vacation.

The information for the Hilton Aspire 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.

Read TPG's review of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

Official application link: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card with 130,000 Hilton Honors points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the card within the first six months of card membership.

World of Hyatt Credit Card

Current bonus: Earn 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.

Current bonus value: Up to $1,020, according to TPG's valuations .

Standout benefits: Earn 4 points per dollar on purchases at Hyatt properties and on Lindblad Expeditions , 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting, 2 points per dollar on airfare purchased directly from airlines, 2 points per dollar at fitness clubs and gym memberships and 1 point per dollar on everything else (though 2 points per dollar on these purchases during the first six months of cardmembership, up to $15,000 spent).

The World of Hyatt Credit Card provides all cardholders an annual Category 1-4 free night at each account anniversary and the ability to earn a second Category 1-4 free night by spending $15,000 on the card in a cardmember year. Cardmembers enjoy automatic Discoverist status with Hyatt, which can include preferred rooms and free bottled water in your room each day, as well as the ability to spend your way toward higher status levels by using your credit card.

Why it's worth it : What makes this card a particularly great fit for families is that Hyatt offers some of the best resorts in the world for those after high-quality family vacations at reasonable award rates. See our guide to the best Category 4 Hyatt properties for families , all of which could be booked with your points and the free night award from the Hyatt credit card.

With Hyatt, resort fees are waived for everyone staying on award nights. Hyatt has also been known to launch special promotions just for its cardholders, which can save you points or money. You can supplement your World of Hyatt account balance with 1:1 transfers from Chase Ultimate Rewards .

Read TPG's review of the World of Hyatt Credit Card

Official application link: World of Hyatt Credit Card with a sign-up bonus of 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card

Current bonus: Earn three Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 in the first three months of account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees.

Current bonus value: Up to $1,260, according to TPG's valuations .

Standout benefits: Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy , 3 points per dollar on the first $6,000 in combined spending at grocery stores, gas stations and dining each year and earn 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Receive a free night award ( worth up to 35,000 points ) each year on your account anniversary, as well as automatic Silver Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and 15 elite night credits toward status simply by having this card.

Why it's worth it: The annual free night award can easily be redeemed for more than $95 in value , covering the annual fee. While Silver Elite status doesn't offer much, you can get early check-in and late checkout at hotels, which both make a hotel stay more convenient. There are also Marriott properties near theme parks — including Disney World — where you can redeem your points and free nights.

Read TPG's review of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card

Official application link: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card with a welcome offer of three Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 in the first three months of account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Current bonus: Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Current bonus value: $700, according to TPG's valuations .

Standout benefits: Earn 10 points per dollar at IHG hotels and resorts , 5 points per dollar on travel, dining and gas purchases and 3 points per dollar on all other purchases. In addition to the free night and the points from the welcome offer, cardholders receive a free night award (worth up to 40,000 points) on each account anniversary. Additionally, you'll receive IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status , which can lead to perks like room upgrades and welcome gifts, in addition to earning points at a higher rate on paid stays. You'll also receive reimbursement for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee .

Why it's worth it: Along with the free night each year, you'll also have access to a fourth night free perk when using points for hotel stays, which is a 25% discount on stays of four nights. These two perks alone can save money for your family and add up to more than the card's $99 annual fee, but you'll also get upgrades and perks during your stays, thanks to the elite status included. The card also offers multiple travel protections in case things go wrong during your trip.

Read TPG's review of the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Official application link: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card with a welcome offer of 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

The best cash-back cards for families

Points and travel perks are great, but sometimes cash is king. If your family doesn't want to muddle with points, it is hard to argue with cash back. While cash itself can be simple, there are many different card options, even within the realm of cash back.

Citi Double Cash® Card

Current bonus: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.

Current bonus value: $ 200

Standout benefits: The Citi Dou ble Cash Card is simple yet very rewarding. While you'll gain access to Citi Entertainment , there aren't many perks built into this no-annual-fee card. The main highlight is the ability to earn 1 ThankYou Point for every dollar you spend and another point when paying your bill — plus the fact you can cash out these points or transfer them to a few travel partners .

Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees ).

Why it's worth it : If you are looking for an easy-to-use cash-back card , the Citi Double Cash Card is hard to beat. No, it doesn't come with all of the bells and whistles some other cards offer in terms of purchase protection or travel insurance, but you'll get a no-annual-fee card that earns cash back in the form of points that can be cashed out but also can be used for other purposes.

To get maximum value from the Double Cash card , you can also pair this card with another Citi card that earns ThankYou Reward points. This would provide access to the full range of Citi's transfer partners .

Read TPG's review of the Citi Double Cash Card

Official application link: Citi Double Cash® Card

Chase Freedom Flex

Current bonus: Earn $200 cash back after spending $500 on your card within three months of account opening.

Current bonus value: $200.

Standout benefits: Earn 5% on the first $1,500 spent on rotating categories each quarter (activation required), 5% on Lyft rides (through March 2025), 5% on travel booked through Chase's travel portal , 3% on dining, 3% at drug stores and 1% on all other purchases. Enjoy cellphone protection each month that you pay your mobile phone bill with this card, three months of DashPass from DoorDash for food delivery without any fees. New applicants also enjoy a 0% introductory APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers. After the introductory period, a variable APR applies, which is 20.49% – 29.24%, based on creditworthiness.

Annual fee: $0.

Why it's worth it: The ability to earn high rates of cash back in areas where families tend to spend money is a great perk of the Freedom Flex. The card also provides cell phone protection, which isn't common for cards without an annual fee. The real power of the Freedom Flex comes from pairing it with the Chase Sapphire Reserve , Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Ink Business Preferred Credit Card (which is a small business credit card) because your cash-back earnings from the Freedom Flex can be used as Chase Ultimate Rewards points and redeemed for outsized value with Chase's transfer partners .

Plus, if you have some large purchases to make and aren't able to pay them off immediately, taking advantage of the introductory 0% APR can provide big savings. Just make sure to pay off your full bill within 15 months to avoid interest charges later on.

Read TPG's review of the Chase Freedom Flex

Official application link: Chase Freedom Flex with a $200 bonus after spending $500 within three months from account opening.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Current bonus: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months.

Standout benefits: Earn 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 6% back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per calendar year, then 1% thereafter), 3% back on transit (parking, tolls, ride-sharing, subway, etc.), 3% back at U.S. gas stations and 1% everywhere else. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. You'll also gain access to valuable Amex Offers and several shopping protections that can save you thousands of dollars.

You'll receive $7 back each month (up to $84 back annually) after spending $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto-renewal) to The Disney Bundle which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ using your card. Enrollment required.

Plus, new applicants can take advantage of a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable APR of 19.24% to 29.99%, based on creditworthiness. New cardholders can also enjoy a $0 Buy Now, Pay Later introductory offer to waive Plan It fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a fixed monthly plan fee of up to 1.33% of each purchase amount moved into a plan based on factors like credit and plan length.

Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (see rates and fees ).

Why it's worth it : Earning elevated cash back on groceries can lead to big savings for your family. The fact you can also earn great rates on commuting expenses and streaming services fits well with most families these days. As mentioned with the Freedom Flex above, the introductory APR and Buy Now, Pay Later rates can also lead to big savings if you need to finance a large purchase. Just be sure to understand the terms and pay off your purchases before you start paying interest.

Read TPG's review of the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express

Official application link: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express with a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 within the first six months of account opening.

Bottom line

No matter which credit card is best for your family's situation, it is entirely possible to turn everyday expenses into rewards and perks that your family can enjoy together.

Just ensure that you use the included benefits and don't start paying interest and fees that offset the value of the rewards you can earn.

Additional reporting by Ryan Smith.

For rates and fees of the Amex Gold card, please click here . For rates and fees of the Amex Green card, please click here . For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, please click here . For rates and fees of the Hilton Surpass, please click here . For rates and fees of the Amex Hilton Honors card, please click here . For rates and fees of the Amex Hilton Aspire card, please click here . For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred, please click here .

Best credit cards for families

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Families come in all shapes and sizes, but the one thing they inevitably have in common is the long list of expenses associated with daily life. Whether it’s the many costs that come along with raising children or the expenses of caring for a shared home, the right credit card can help cover those costs while also providing valuable rewards.

With this in mind, we’ve gathered the top cards for families in a number of key spending categories. To choose our top picks, we considered each card’s primary features including rewards, bonus offers and introductory APRs. We also reviewed the fees charged, as well any “fine print” benefits. Equally important, we considered the common spending habits of families.

Best credit card for grocery shopping

Blue cash preferred® card from american express, bankrate's view.

The Blue Cash Preferred Card offers an outstanding 6 percent cash back at U.S. supermarkets up to the first $6,000 spent in a calendar year, then 1 percent after — and what family doesn’t need to spend at the supermarket?

It also offers boosted earnings in other spending categories that are common expenses for families, such as 6 percent back on select streaming services, 3 percent at gas stations and on transit and 1 percent on other eligible purchases.

Card details

• Welcome offer: $250 statement credit when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership
• Intro APR: 0 percent introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months after account is opened (then 19.24 percent to 29.99 percent variable ongoing APR)
• Rewards: 6 percent at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 spent in a year, then 1 percent); 6 percent on select streaming; 3 percent on gas; 3 percent on such transit as taxis, rideshare, buses, trains, parking and tolls; and 1 percent on other purchases
• Annual fee : $0 introductory fee for the first year and then $95 annually

Pros and cons

• Industry-leading 6 percent cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 spent each year (then 1 percent)
• $7 back each month when you use your card to pay $9.99 or more monthly on an eligible Disney Bundle subscription (subject to auto renewal; enrollment required) — up to $84 in savings in a year that can offset the annual fee.
• 0 percent intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers (then 19.24 percent to 29.99 percent variable ongoing APR) can help families pay down debt.
• No annual fee for the first year only, after which you’ll pay $95 a year.
• Boosted supermarket cash back rewards are limited to $6,000 in spending annually, dropping to 1 percent after.
• Superstores and warehouse clubs — like Costco and Target — are excluded from boosted rewards.

Alternative choice: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express offers a solid alternative if you’re wanting to avoid an annual fee. In addition to its $0 annual fee, the card offers a variety of additional benefits, including the same Disney bundle credit offered by Blue Cash Preferred.

• Welcome offer: $200 statement credit when you spend $2,000 within the first six months of opening the card
• Intro APR: 0 percent intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from account opening (then 19.24 percent to 29.99 percent variable ongoing APR)
• Rewards: 3 percent cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retailers and U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 spent in each category each year (then 1 percent), and 1 percent back on other purchases.
• Annual fee: $0

Best cash back credit card

Wells fargo active cash® card.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card offers a valuable yet straightforward cash rewards program for busy families looking for a simple way to earn rewards on everyday spending. There are no caps or categories to understand, making for one less thing to keep up with. There’s also an attractive welcome offer and intro APR opportunity.

• Welcome offer: $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases within the first three months of opening an account
• Intro APR: 0 percent intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 months from account opening (then 20.24 percent, 25.24 percent or 29.99 percent variable APR thereafter). Balance transfers must be made in the first 120 days to qualify for the offer, and an intro balance transfer fee of 3 percent applies (then up to 5 percent, minimum of $5).
• Rewards: 2 percent cash rewards on purchases with no limits or spending category requirements
• Unlimited 2 percent cash rewards on purchases with many ways to redeem them, including offsetting eligible purchases; a credit to a qualifying Wells Fargo credit card, checking or mortgage account; and even gift cards. Cash rewards can also be withdrawn at a Wells Fargo ATM in $20 increments.
• Purchases and qualifying balance transfers in your first 120 days get 15 months under a 0 percent introductory APR (then 20.24 percent, 25.24 percent or 29.99 percent ongoing variable APR).
• Cellphone protection against covered damage or theft for up to $600 per claim (subject to a $25 deductible) when you pay your cellphone bill with the card.
• A 3 percent foreign currency conversion fee and lack of travel protections, features and credits you’ll find with other cash back cards make this a poor choice for family travel.

Alternative choice: Citi Double Cash® Card

The Citi Double Cash Card is a compelling runner-up to the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card for families, offering no annual fee and flat-rate cash back. But you won’t get an introductory APR offer on purchases with Citi Double Cash. Still, it’s a good alternative, if you already have a premium Citi card, such as the Citi Premier® Card , and want an everyday card with rewards you can combine under Citi Premier for travel redemptions.

• Welcome offer: $200 cash back — awarded as 20,000 ThankYou points — when you spend $1,500 on purchases within six months of opening the card
• Intro APR: 0 percent intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months from account opening followed by a 19.24 percent to 29.24 percent variable ongoing APR. Balance transfers must be made in the first four months to qualify.
• Rewards: Up to 2 percent cash back with no limits — 1 percent cash back when you make purchases, and 1 percent back as you pay off those purchases. Limited-time offer earns you 5 percent cash back on travel-related expenses including car rentals and hotel rentals booked through Citi Travel through Dec. 31, 2024.

Best travel rewards credit card

Chase sapphire preferred® card, bankrate’s view.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns a longtime reputation as a top travel rewards card , thanks to its healthy welcome bonus and extra redemption value opportunities. The Sapphire Preferred card can be an especially good choice for families looking for travel rewards without a steep annual membership fee. And the card earns powerful Chase Ultimate Rewards points redeemable for travel through the Chase portal for 25 percent more value than when redeemed for cash. Points are worth even more if transferred to a high-value hotel or airline loyalty partner.

Excellent travel protections like trip cancellation and interruption insurance, auto rental collision waivers, baggage delay insurance and trip delay reimbursement can be useful for families on the go. And a standout benefit of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is that you can add other Chase cards to your wallet later and combine all your points in a single bucket.

• Welcome offer: 60,000 bonus points — worth $750 in travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal — after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening an account
• Rewards: 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (excluding hotel purchases that earn the card’s up to $50 annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit); 3X points on restaurant and dining purchases, including eligible delivery service charges and takeout; 2X points on other travel-related purchases; 1X points on all other spending
• Annual fee: $95
• Access to Chase Ultimate Rewards travel transfer partners, where you can realize the most value for your rewards redemption.
• Up to $50 as an annual statement credit for hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
• Anniversary points bonus equal to 10 percent of your total spending on the card over the prior year.
• No introductory APR offer that can help families pay down high-interest debt.
• Highest-value reward redemption comes from transferring points to travel partners, which can be confusing.

Alternative choice: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

A card with no annual fee and noteworthy travel rewards, the Capital One VentureOne Card can be a good option for families that don’t want to pay for extra perks but do like the idea of building up travel rewards to offset a future getaway.

• Welcome offer: 20,000 bonus miles for new cardmembers who spend $500 on purchases within three months of opening an account
• Intro APR: 0 percent introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 19.99 percent to 29.99 percent variable ongoing APR (3 percent of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account during the first 15 months your account is open or at a promotional APR offered to you at any other time; no fee for amounts transferred at the transfer APR)
• Rewards: Unlimited 1.25 miles per dollar for every purchase made with the card and unlimited 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booked with Capital One Travel

Best 0% intro APR credit card

Chase freedom unlimited®.

Chase Freedom Unlimited is a solid everyday rewards card that can provide families with a lot of value, including a lengthy introductory APR period for purchases and balance transfers. Generous rewards in everyday categories are likely to appeal to families, including 3 percent back at restaurants and drugstores and 1.5 percent back as a base rate for all purchases. All “cash back” is rewarded as Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Freedom Unlimited makes an excellent addition to a family travel rewards strategy: As with other Ultimate Rewards–earning Chase cards, you can pool your rewards with points earned through other Chase cards in your wallet. That’s why Freedom Unlimited is often recommended as a card for the Chase Trifecta — that is, the strategic use of three different Chase cards to maximize the earning and redemption value of travel rewards.

• Welcome offer: Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That’s 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
• Intro APR: 0 percent intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, followed by an ongoing variable APR of 20.49 percent to 29.24 percent
• Rewards: 5 percent cash on travel purchases made through Chase Travel; 5 percent back on Lyft purchases through March 2025; 3 percent on dining at restaurants, takeout and eligible delivery services; 3 percent on drugstore purchases; and 1.5 percent on other purchases
• No annual fee combined with generous rewards program offerings, excellent travel protections and benefits and extended warranty coverage.
• Card provides value long beyond a general intro APR offer, unlike many balance transfer or intro APR cards that offer few or no rewards.
• You need a premium Chase card like Sapphire Preferred to maximize your rewards value beyond about 1 cent each.
• 1.5 percent cash back on all other purchases is fine as part of a larger rewards strategy, but if you’re looking for a top cash back card, you might want to consider one that earns 2 percent cash back on all eligible purchases, such as the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card.
• Charges a foreign transaction fee of 3 percent.

Alternative choice: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards offers yet another valuable option for families looking to avoid an annual fee while taking advantage of a generous introductory APR offer and simple everyday rewards. If you already have a miles-earning Capital One card, such as the VentureOne card, you can convert your cash back earned with Quicksilver into Capital One miles. Quicksilver doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, so it’s a better choice than Freedom Unlimited if you need a card for traveling overseas or shopping in foreign currency.

• Welcome offer: One-time $200 cash bonus if you spend $500 within three months of opening the card
• Intro APR: 0% introductory APR for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers, with a variable APR of 19.99 percent to 29.99 percent after(3 percent of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account during the first 15 months your account is open or at a promotional APR offered to you at any other time; no fee for amounts transferred at the transfer APR)
• Rewards: Unlimited 1.5 percent cash back on every purchase, plus 5 percent cash back on hotels and rental cars booked with Capital One Travel

Best credit card for online shopping

The family that shops online likely shops at Amazon. If you’re on a first-name basis with your Amazon delivery driver, the Prime Visa could prove a particularly lucrative card for your family. The card offers an impressive 5 percent back on Amazon purchases, including digital downloads, Amazon gift cards and items sold by third-party merchants through Amazon.com’s marketplace. Purchases with Amazon Style, Amazon Prime Video and Kindle Unlimited also earn you 5 percent back.

But it’s not just Amazon purchases that earn families more with this card. Earn 5 percent back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, as well as on your Whole Foods purchases. Sweetening the pot even more, families can earn boosted rewards at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit and commuting, including rideshares.

• Welcome offer: $100 Amazon gift card on application approval
• Intro APR: None
• Rewards: 5 percent back at Amazon.com, Whole Foods and travel purchased via Chase Travel; 2 percent back at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit and commuting (including rideshares); 1 percent back on other purchases
• Annual fee: $0 — though $139 Prime membership required to earn top rewards
• Lucrative 5 percent rewards across common family shopping categories that include groceries, Amazon purchases, gas and restaurants.
• Amazon’s ever-expanding product catalog allows for top rewards on a seemingly endless list of purchases for your family.
• Additional benefits include auto rental collision damage waiver, roadside dispatch, travel accident insurance, extended warranty protection and purchase protection.
• Prime membership is required to earn the boosted 5 percent unlimited rewards rate; otherwise, the non-Prime version of this card earns just 3 percent on Amazon purchases.
• No annual fee, though a Prime membership costs $139 annually or $14.99 monthly.
• Though issued by Chase, rewards earned with this card aren't Ultimate Rewards points.

Alternative choice: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

The no-annual-fee Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards offers strong rewards on your online purchases, expanding your earnings beyond a single retailer with additional flexibility for top rewards. You can choose the category in which you want to earn the highest rewards rate from among a list of six, including online shopping. Plus, if you bank with Bank of America and qualify for its Preferred Rewards program, you can earn 25 percent to 75 percent more rewards on every purchase.

• Welcome offer: $200 online cash rewards bonus if you make at least $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening
• Intro APR: 0 percent intro APR for the first 15 billing cycles on balance transfers made within 60 days of opening the card as well as on purchases. Ongoing variable APR of 18.24 percent to 28.24 percent thereafter
• Rewards: 3 percent cash back in one of six categories of your choice — gas and EV charging stations; online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming; dining; travel; drugstores; or home improvement stores — and earn 2 percent back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (3 percent and 2 percent earning is on the first $2,500 in combined quarterly spending); earn 1 percent on other purchases

How to choose the best credit card for your family

Choosing the right card for your family requires many of the same steps and considerations as choosing a card for yourself:

• Know your credit score . Applying for a credit card often triggers a hard credit inquiry from the issuer, and you don’t want too many of those on your credit report. Only apply for cards for which you have a reasonable expectation of qualifying, starting with your credit score .
• Understand issuer rules. Each issuer has its own rules on who it will and won’t approve for a card, and some of those rules have nothing to do with your credit score. The Chase 5/24 rule , for instance, means Chase is unlikely to approve you for a card if you’ve opened five or more accounts with any bank in the past 24 months.
• Take stock of your budget. You want a card that slides easily into your regular spending habits and rewards goals. No credit card is worth manipulating your spending or budget to make it fit. Instead, choose the right type of credit card that rewards the spending you already do.
• Consider the fees. Don’t ignore the not-fun parts of a card’s terms. An annual fee can be worth it , but you want rewards and perks to more than offset that upfront cost. If you expect you’ll carry a balance, make sure you understand the interest rate you’ll pay.
• Make sure you can meet the welcome bonus. Many top rewards cards advertise lucrative welcome bonuses but require substantial spending to earn it. If meeting a spending requirement will be difficult, consider timing your application around a large single purchase — such as paying taxes or completing a major home improvement — to earn the bonus.

The bottom line

No matter who makes up your family, your expenses will be different from those of your single days. As your family grows and changes, make sure your personal finance choices keep up. Whether you’re combining households, getting married or adding a new child to the mix, there’s a credit card out there for you.

Still unsure of the right pick? Try Bankrate’s CardMatch tool for card suggestions tailored to your specific needs.

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Before having kids, my husband and I loved to travel. When our family grew, we agreed that we wanted to continue to prioritize exploring the world as much as we could. Unlike it may seem on Instagram, no one comes with a magic wand and whisks us away on vacation — we make sacrifices to design these experiences, and we work hard to make them happen.

Now that we’re paying for four, credit cards play a major role in our ability to swing our travel, but perhaps not in the way you might think. We don’t rack up debt, and because we pay our bills in full each month, we don’t pay any interest. Instead, we rely heavily on the points and miles that we largely earn from credit card rewards . And with the national average domestic airline itinerary fare hovering just below $400 in the fourth quarter of last year, according to the Department of Transportation, every bit we can defray helps.

Here are some of the ways that credit cards help make our family’s travel dreams a reality — for a fraction of the out-of-pocket cost.

» SEE: Best travel credit cards right now

(Nearly) free flights

The rewards we earn from the many credit cards we hold help fly our family for almost free. Some cards are branded to a particular airline and earn frequent flyer miles that can be used for flights on that airline and its partners. Other credit cards earn rewards that aren’t locked into one brand and offer more flexibility. You can transfer those rewards to several partner airlines, which allows you to shop around to find the best flight options for your family. If you have enough miles to cover the flights, you’ll just pay a nominal charge for taxes and fees out of pocket: They start at $5.60 one way per person if you’re traveling in the U.S.

When I tell inquiring friends how our rewards pay for flights, I’m often met with skeptical stares. “Don’t they charge so many miles? I’ll never earn enough.” Though the cost of award flights in miles can seem outrageous many times, there are still values to be found. We recently booked coast-to-coast flights for our family of four for less than 10,000 miles per person one way. An average bonus for opening a new credit card is around 50,000 miles, sometimes considerably more. That means by opening one new card and paying an annual fee under $100, my whole family can jet from Baltimore to sunny California.

Plus, I have an extra "free flight trick" up my sleeve: a companion pass . Several popular airlines offer the perk for a companion to fly free or at a reduced cost — as an outright perk of holding its branded credit card or by earning enough points in a year.

Our family's favorite airline, Southwest, has the best companion pass around: Once the pass is earned, one companion can fly free with you (you'll just pay taxes and fees) as many times as you fly the rest of that calendar year, plus the entire next calendar year. ( More details here .)

» MORE: Which cards have the best bonuses this month

Travel ‘insurance’ and flexibility

When you’re beholden to a school calendar that dictates when you can travel, you quickly learn that availability and prices can be sky-high during spring break or the winter holidays, when everyone is taking trips. For example, more than 141 million people flew in March and April this year, compared with 118 million in January and February, according to Transportation Security Administration checkpoint travel numbers. Booking far in advance is helpful to lock in those plans. Often, you’ll find better availability and lower prices than you’ll get when you reserve closer in. And when you pay with miles or points, there’s less at stake: You’re not shelling out a bunch of cash now for a trip you’ll take next year.

Whether you’re booking well in advance or last minute, using rewards earned from credit cards can give greater flexibility should your plans change. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, many airlines ditched the fees to cancel or change a ticket. Some of those fees are creeping back — but the policies are often more generous if you’ve booked with miles. Having a stash of credit card points and miles at the ready helps my family book trips with the peace of mind that we’ll be able to change our plans without paying big fees.

If you pay cash for your ticket, you’ll still be able to cancel — but with more caveats. In many cases, you’ll have to pay a higher fare to have that flexibility to change or cancel your ticket. Often, you’ll be refunded in the form of travel credit with that airline rather than getting your money back. That means you’ll have money tied up with that airline, which isn’t ideal if you find a better deal on a different airline for your next flights or if you need that cash for other expenses. Plus, those credits can expire.

Booking with miles, on the other hand, can allow you to cancel your tickets — even last minute — and get all your rewards back without penalty.

» SEE: Best credit cards for travel insurance

Perks that make it easier

“Gee, I’m so excited to wait in long lines with grumpy kids,” said no one ever. The reality is that long lines at security checkpoints, rental car counters and even hotel check-in queues can really dampen the excitement of travel for kids and grown-ups alike.

But for my family, many of the travel perks that come along with the premium credit cards we hold far outweigh the cost of the annual fees we pay. Thanks to services like TSA Precheck , Global Entry and Clear, we are able to skip out on lots of idle time spent waiting in line. The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a hefty $695 annual fee, but it offers credits that help cover the cost of these services. We can pop into an airport lounge while we wait to board and enjoy free drinks and snacks. Terms apply. Elite status is another benefit that the right credit cards afford us. We can skip the line at the rental counter and head straight to our car after a long flight. Thanks to the automatic Hilton Honors™ Gold status we get from the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card , we can go to a special queue when we check in to our hotel, and we can take advantage of elite perks like room upgrades, late checkout and daily credit to help cover breakfast. Terms apply.

» READ: Top hotel credit cards that offer free anniversary nights

‘Free money’ helps budgets stretch further

Most major credit card issuers these days offer special merchant-specific discounts when activated on your card. They’re like built-in coupons you can add to your credit card with an easy click, and they can save you very real dollars on purchases you’re already making.

I think of these offers as "free money" I earn back from my credit cards. I load as many of these coupons onto my cards as I can because there’s no penalty if I don’t use them. If I’m ordering pizza for Friday movie night, sending birthday flowers or purchasing new luggage, I’ll check my credit card offers first so I can see whether shopping at any featured merchants makes sense to save money.

Once I make a qualifying purchase, my card gets credited back the amount I saved. I like to keep track of this money in a simple spreadsheet and watch it add up: $5 back from this restaurant, $10 back from this back-to-school shopping trip. Then I put that money aside into a trip fund to help subsidize the extra costs of our travels.

By shaving off extra costs whenever I can, our family can afford to travel together more.

» NEXT: Best credit card rewards for family travel

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4 ways I use credit cards to make my family’s travel cheaper

This article is reprinted by permission from NerdWallet . 

Before having kids, my husband and I loved to travel. When our family grew, we agreed that we wanted to continue to prioritize exploring the world as much as we could. Unlike it may seem on Instagram, no one comes with a magic wand and whisks us away on vacation — we make sacrifices to design these experiences, and we work hard to make them happen.

Now that we’re paying for four, credit cards play a major role in our ability to swing our travel, but perhaps not in the way you might think. We don’t rack up debt, and because we pay our bills in full each month, we don’t pay any interest. Instead, we rely heavily on the points and miles that we largely earn from credit card rewards. And with the national average domestic airline itinerary fare hovering just below $400 in the fourth quarter of last year, according to the Department of Transportation, every bit we can defray helps.

Here are some of the ways that credit cards help make our family’s travel dreams a reality — for a fraction of the out-of-pocket cost.

(Nearly) free flights

The rewards we earn from the many credit cards we hold help fly our family for almost free. Some cards are branded to a particular airline and earn frequent flyer miles that can be used for flights on that airline and its partners. Other credit cards earn rewards that aren’t locked into one brand and offer more flexibility. You can transfer those rewards to several partner airlines, which allows you to shop around to find the best flight options for your family. If you have enough miles to cover the flights, you’ll just pay a nominal charge for taxes and fees out of pocket: They start at $5.60 one way per person if you’re traveling in the U.S.

Plus: Don’t hold your breath waiting for rental car prices to drop—here’s why they’re so expensive

When I tell inquiring friends how our rewards pay for flights, I’m often met with skeptical stares. “Don’t they charge so many miles? I’ll never earn enough.” Though the cost of award flights in miles can seem outrageous many times, there are still values to be found. We recently booked coast-to-coast flights for our family of four for less than 10,000 miles per person one way. An average bonus for opening a new credit card is around 50,000 miles, sometimes considerably more. That means by opening one new card and paying an annual fee under $100, my whole family can jet from Baltimore to sunny California.

Plus, I have an extra “free flight trick” up my sleeve: a  companion pass . Several popular airlines offer the perk for a companion to fly free or at a reduced cost — as an outright perk of holding its branded credit card or by earning enough points in a year. Using a companion pass helps stretch our family’s airfare budget even further.

Also see: My husband and I are 64. We have $1.5 million in retirement accounts. He wants to travel. I’m more cautious. Who’s right?

Travel ‘insurance’ and flexibility

When you’re beholden to a school calendar that dictates when you can travel, you quickly learn that availability and prices can be sky-high during spring break or the winter holidays, when everyone is taking trips. For example, more than 141 million people flew in March and April this year, compared with 118 million in January and February, according to Transportation Security Administration checkpoint travel numbers. Booking far in advance is helpful to lock in those plans. Often, you’ll find better availability and lower prices than you’ll get when you reserve closer in. And when you pay with miles or points, there’s less at stake: You’re not shelling out a bunch of cash now for a trip you’ll take next year.

Whether you’re booking well in advance or last minute, using rewards earned from credit cards can give greater flexibility should your plans change. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, many airlines ditched the fees to cancel or change a ticket. Some of those fees are creeping back — but the policies are often more generous if you’ve booked with miles. Having a stash of credit card points and miles at the ready helps my family book trips with the peace of mind that we’ll be able to change our plans without paying big fees.

If you pay cash for your ticket, you’ll still be able to cancel — but with more caveats. In many cases, you’ll have to pay a higher fare to have that flexibility to change or cancel your ticket. Often, you’ll be refunded in the form of travel credit with that airline rather than getting your money back. That means you’ll have money tied up with that airline, which isn’t ideal if you find a better deal on a different airline for your next flights or if you need that cash for other expenses. Plus, those credits can expire.

Booking with miles, on the other hand, can allow you to cancel your tickets — even last minute — and get all your rewards back without penalty.

Read : What to know before you book a flight on one of those low-cost international airlines

Perks that make it easier

“Gee, I’m so excited to wait in long lines with grumpy kids,” said no one ever. The reality is that long lines at security checkpoints, rental car counters and even hotel check-in queues can really dampen the excitement of travel for kids and grown-ups alike.

But for my family, many of the travel perks that come along with the premium credit cards we hold far outweigh the cost of the annual fees we pay. Thanks to services like  TSA PreCheck , Global Entry and Clear, we are able to skip out on lots of idle time spent waiting in line. Several travel cards offer credits that cover the cost of these services, and we take full advantage as cardholders. We can pop into an airport lounge while we wait to board and enjoy free drinks and snacks.

Elite status  is another benefit that the right credit cards afford us. We can skip the line at the rental counter and head straight to our car after a long flight. We can go to a special queue when we check in to our hotel, and we can take advantage of elite perks like room upgrades, late checkout and daily credit to help cover breakfast.

Also see: How couples can turbo-charge points and miles by planning together

‘Free money’ helps budgets stretch further

Most major credit card issuers these days offer special merchant-specific discounts when activated on your card. They’re like built-in coupons you can add to your credit card with an easy click, and they can save you very real dollars on purchases you’re already making.

I think of these offers as “free money” I earn back from my credit cards. I load as many of these coupons onto my cards as I can because there’s no penalty if I don’t use them. If I’m ordering pizza for Friday movie night, sending birthday flowers or purchasing new luggage, I’ll check my credit card offers first so I can see whether shopping at any featured merchants makes sense to save money.

Once I make a qualifying purchase, my card gets credited back the amount I saved. I like to keep track of this money in a simple spreadsheet and watch it add up: $5 back from this restaurant, $10 back from this back-to-school shopping trip. Then I put that money aside into a trip fund to help subsidize the extra costs of our travels.

By shaving off extra costs whenever I can, our family can afford to travel together more.

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Erin Hurd writes for NerdWallet. Email: [email protected].