We Compared 100+ Credit Cards -- This Is the Best Travel Card for February 2026

The fastest way to overpay for a travel credit card is to assume you need a premium one.

After comparing more than 100 travel cards, the best option for February 2026 isn't the one with the biggest annual fee or the longest perk list. It's the card that delivers the most value for how people actually spend and travel: the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees).

Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred keeps winning

Most travel cards are either too basic to feel meaningful, or so perk-heavy they become a chore to use.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card lives right in the middle.

You get real travel upside, strong everyday earning, and protections that actually matter, all for a $95 annual fee.

The welcome bonus does most of the heavy lifting

Right now, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months.

That bonus alone is worth at least $750 in Chase Travel℠ value, but often more if you transfer points to airline or hotel partners or redeem for Points Boost offers.

For most people, this covers years of annual fees before you even think about ongoing rewards.

Strong rewards where people actually spend

This card works especially well for everyday life, not just vacations.

You 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
• 1X points on all other purchases

Dining is the quiet winner here. Even without frequent flights, food spending alone can rack up points fast.

The $50 hotel credit is awesome

Each year, you get up to $50 in statement credits for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel.

If you book even one hotel night a year, the effective annual fee drops from $95 to $45.

If you want a travel card that doesn't make you stress over earning back your annual fee, this is the one.

Is the $95 annual fee worth it?

In practice, yes.

Between the $50 hotel credit and the value of flexible points, the math works quickly. You don't need luxury habits or perfect optimization for this card to pay for itself.

After comparing more than 100 credit cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card still hits the sweet spot in February 2026.

It's not flashy. It just works. And for most travelers, that's exactly what the best card should do. You can learn more in our full review and apply right here.