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The best premium credit cards on the market offer top-tier travel perks, statement credits, and elite status with all sorts of travel partners. But they also come with high annual fees, meaning you'll want to choose wisely to see if one of these cards is right for you.
We've reviewed dozens of premium cards to find the best options for different types of cardholders, from frequent flyers to business travelers. Read on to find the one that makes the most sense for your wallet.
Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.
Best for ease of use: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees)
Best for premium benefits: The Platinum Card® from American Express (see rates and fees)
Great for: Ease of use
On Capital One's Secure Website.
On Capital One's Secure Website.
Excellent (740-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
2X-10X miles
Annual Fee
$395
Welcome Offer 75000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
75,000 Miles
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a favorite among our experts thanks to benefits that easily offset the $395 annual fee — an easy-to-use $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, a 10,000-mile bonus every anniversary (equal to $100 towards travel), a huge welcome bonus (equal to $750 in travel), unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, and even higher rewards on eligible travel. Pile on access to a global airport lounge network, Global Entry/TSA Pre✓® reimbursement, and experience credits to get you where you want to go in comfort.
The Capital One Venture X Card (see rates and fees) is one of the most straightforward luxury cards on the market. You'll earn 5X-10X miles on travel booked through Capital One, plus 2X miles on all other purchases.
Cardholders also get lounge access, travel protections, and a $300 annual travel credit. That annual credit effectively knocks the annual fee down to $95, making it that much easier to justify the Capital One Venture X Card's yearly cost.
Great for: Premium benefits
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards 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. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points
Annual Fee
$695
Welcome Offer Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
This luxury travel card has some of the most prestigious perks you'll find — access to over 1,400 airport lounges, elite status with Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment required), and spending credits worth over $1,500 in value every year. Just be ready for the hefty annual fee, which can be offset in the first year with a welcome bonus worth $800 in points. Terms apply.
Read Full ReviewIf you want VIP perks, you won't be able to top the Amex Platinum Card. You'll get lounge access with multiple networks, top-tier hotel and airline benefits, and nearly $1,300 in annual statement credits for travel, shopping, and lifestyle spending. Terms apply; enrollment may be required.
It's expensive, no doubt -- it has an annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees) -- but the perks can easily offset the cost if you travel enough and make use of its other statement credits.
Great for: Flexible rewards
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
20.24% - 28.74% Variable
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.
5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠.
Annual Fee
$550
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 bonus points
All the perks we've come to expect from a top travel card, including a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access, and big bonuses on travel and dining. Points are transferable to airline and hotel partners or worth 50% more if you book through Chase Travel. The annual fee is hefty, but if you can use all its features, this card could be well worth the cost.
Read Full ReviewThe Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) makes it easy to earn and redeem points. You get 5x-10x total points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠ (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually), then 3x points on other travel and dining, a versatile $300 travel credit, and strong travel protections. If you make use of that travel credit, you're effectively cutting the card's $550 annual fee by more than half.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 50% more when you redeem through Chase Travel, or you can transfer to one of Chase's airline and hotel partners.
Great for: Frequent Delta flyers
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
APR
20.24%-29.24% Variable
Rewards Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
1X-3X miles
Annual Fee
$650
Welcome Offer Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
70,000 Bonus Miles
This card comes with huge perks if you are a loyal Delta customer. The annual fee pays for itself in a hurry if you are able to take advantage of all this card has to offer.
If you're a loyal Delta flyer, this is the card for you. You'll get access to the Delta Sky Club and Amex Centurion Lounges, plus an annual companion certificate and upgrade priority. The card carries a $650 annual fee (see rates and fees), but with up to $120 in annual rideshare credits and up to $200 in annual Delta Stays credits, you're already well on the way to making up the cost. Terms apply; enrollment may be required.
You can also earn elite status through card spending, making it easier to move up Delta's Medallion tiers.
Great for: Hilton hotel perks
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
APR
20.99% to 29.99%, variable
Rewards 14 points per $1 at Hilton properties, 7 points per $1 on flights booked directly with the airline, rental cars booked through certain agencies, and dining in eligible U.S. restaurants, 3 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases
3X - 14x points
Annual Fee
$550
Welcome Offer 175,000 Hilton Honors points by spending $6,000 in the first six months of card opening
175,000 Hilton Honors points
This card comes with a high annual fee, but if you travel frequently and love to stay with Hilton, the benefits of the card can easily outweigh the fee.
Frequent Hilton guests will get huge value here. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card includes automatic Hilton Diamond status, up to $400 in annual Hilton resort and airline credits (making up the vast majority of the $550 annual fee, see rates and fees), and one free night each year. Terms apply; enrollment may be required.
You'll also earn up to 14X points per $1 on stays at Hilton properties when you combine with your Hilton membership. Terms apply; enrollment may be required.
Great for: Business spending
On American Express's Secure Website.
On American Express's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
18.49% - 27.49% Variable
Rewards Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. Earn 1.5X points on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
1X - 5X points
Annual Fee
$695
Welcome Offer Limited Time Travel Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel with your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends 6/30/25.
150,000 Membership Rewards® points
For businesses that prioritize premium travel perks and elite rewards, this is a top-tier choice. You’ll earn 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel, along with 1.5X points on eligible large purchases. But what sets this card apart is the extensive list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access, annual travel credits, and a credit toward TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee reimbursement. While it comes with a higher annual fee, we think the luxury perks and exclusive rewards make it a valuable investment for frequent business travelers.
As the name suggests, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is the business counterpart to the Amex Platinum Card, also carrying a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees). In exchange, however, you'll get top-of-the-line perks that are hard to beat -- including up to $400 in Dell and Adobe credits and premium lounge access. Terms apply; enrollment may be required.
You'll earn 1.5X points on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. You'll also get and 35% points back when booking flights with Amex Travel using Pay with Points. Terms apply.
At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates and 0% intro APR offers, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and purchase protections.
Our highest-rated credit cards have:
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best credit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.
Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.
At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates and 0% intro APR offers, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and purchase protections.
Our highest-rated credit cards have:
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best credit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.
Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.
Luxury credit cards can pay you back in spades, but only if you take advantage of their benefits.
Start by estimating how much value you'll get from a card's travel credits, lounge access, welcome offer and earnings rates. Then, make sure the card's benefits justify its annual fee, and that you won't end up losing money by paying a high-end annual fee.
This is easily done if you can find a card that matches your travel habits and lifestyle. There's a credit card out there for everyone, if you know what you want out of a card and where to find it.
General travel cards, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Capital One Venture X Card, offer more flexibility with rewards. Cobranded cards, like those offered by Delta or Hilton, provide outsized value if you're loyal to a specific airline or hotel chain.
Think about where you travel and who you fly or stay with most often.
Most premium cards require good to excellent credit (a FICO® Score of 700 or higher). Issuers also look for strong income, especially on cards with higher annual fees.
A luxury credit card is a premium rewards card with high-end perks like lounge access, travel credits, and elite status. These cards typically have high annual fees and require good to excellent credit for approval.
The answer is almost always yes, if you can take advantage of a card's benefits. Many cards offer over $1,000 in annual value through credits, upgrades, and rewards.
Yes. Most include trip cancellation, interruption, and delay coverage, as well as lost baggage and rental car insurance. Read the terms and conditions for the specifics relating to your card.
It's possible. A score of 700 is typically the minimum, but issuers also consider your income and existing debt when evaluating your application.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here
For rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, click here
For rates and fees for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here
For rates and fees for the The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Amex.