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air travel/miles

Using points and miles for discount travel can seem enticing – but if we’re being honest, if you are new to the game, it can also simultaneously feel a bit overwhelming, am I right? There are just so many dang cards you can start with to earn your rewards! Where does one begin?
Don’t let the choices stress you! Smart Moms Travel Agents have done the research and have hands-on earning experience we are happy to lend. Ready for a customized list of our favorite cards especially selected for those who are starting off in the points world? Look no further! 
The first step in best utilizing this list is to consider your travel goals. Do you know if your emphasis and goal in using points will be for cutting costs on flights? On hotels? Or are you most interested in the added perks and benefits that come with many of the travel credit cards? Really thinking about what excites you the most about the possibility of point use will help you determine where to start in sign ups! 
Even if you do not know what your priority is yet, the following cards are a great place to begin and we have given you a brief run down of their most attractive benefits!

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
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, 2027.
Member FDIC
$95 annual fee, although the $50 hotel rewards credit if used essentially brings this down to $45.
Adheres to the Chase’s 5/24 rule (Chase will likely decline your application if you've opened five or more new credit cards in the past 24 months).


Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card learn more here
Perhaps the best card to specifically earn miles, this card’s big sign-up bonus, high rewards, and flexible redemption also make this card a favorite.

Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
$0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
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
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: learn more here
This card has our top vote for premium travelers!

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
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
Enjoy complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and the Partner Lounge Network
Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Annual fee: $395. See rates and fees.

Read more strategy on using credit card sign ups for the Companion Pass here! 
In the end, whether you are just an occasional traveler taking a trip a year, or your wanderlust runs deep and you globetrot as much as possible, adding a travel credit card to your wallet will be a great way to save money to better enhance what you book – or to simply allow you to increase your frequency of travel! 

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. 

Updated: 2/18/2025
Updated: 2/18/2025