Best Travel Credit Cards for Digital Nomads
Credit cards offer a wealth of benefits for digital nomads and frequent travelers. First off, by choosing a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, you can save up to 3% on your overall travel expenses. These savings can easily add up when you travel full-time or for a large part of the year.
For those willing to invest a little time into understanding rewards programs, travel rewards credit cards can also offer access to miles and points—so you may be able to take the occasional free flight (maybe even in business class!) or redeem points to stay at a luxury hotel.
And if you want to take things up a notch, premium travel rewards cards (typically with annual fees over $395) can even give you access to airline lounges, better earning rates, and other built-in perks.
But what's the best credit card for digital nomads? We'll break down the top options, decode the points and miles game, and help you find the best card for your unique needs. Ready to find your perfect credit card and slash your travel expenses? Let's dive in!
Best Credit Cards for Digital Nomads
Digital nomads travel a lot, so naturally the best credit cards for digital nomads overlap with the best credit cards for travel.
Here's an overview of the key features of the best credit cards we've handpicked specifically for digital nomads:
| Card Name | Annual Fee | Lounge Access | Travel Protections | Foreign Transaction Fee | Earnings Rates | Transferable Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | $395 | Yes | Yes | No | Great | Yes |
| Chase® Sapphire Reserve | $550 | Best in Class | Best in Class | No | Great | Yes |
| The Platinum Card by American Express | $695 | Yes | Limited | No | Okay | Yes |
| Chase® Sapphire Preferred | $95 | No | Best in Class | No | Good | Yes |
| Citi Strata Premier | $95 | No | Yes | No | Good | Yes |
| U.S. Bank Altitude Go | $0 | No | No | No | Good | No |
Now, let's dive deeper and review each of these top credit card options to see which one is the perfect match for your nomadic adventures!
1. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Best for the Best of All Worlds
Editor's Thoughts
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is technically a premium travel credit card, but it comes in at a much lower price point compared with other premium travel cards. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card charges a $395 annual fee and offers solid earnings and a nice welcome bonus. This card is perfect for the digital nomad who wants a little bit of everything.
Why we like it
This card offers consistent value for everyday spending and exceptional benefits for frequent travelers, including lounge access and a significant annual travel credit.
What we don't like
Redemption options with well-known airlines and hotel loyalty programs are less extensive compared to other cards.
Credit Card Highlights
Earnings and welcome bonus
- Earn 10X Miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- Earn 5X Miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
- Earn 2X Miles on all other purchases.
- Introductory offer: Earn 75,000 Miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
- 10,000 Anniversary Miles every year starting on your cardmember anniversary
- $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
- $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit once every four years
Travel perks
- Access to Capital One Lounges for you and two guests
- Access to over 1,300 airport lounges through Priority Pass for you and two guests
- No foreign transaction fees
- Redeem miles through Capital One Travel or transfer to 15+ partner programs
- Cell phone protection covering up to $800 against damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your card
- Travel protections, including rental car collision coverage, trip delay coverage, trip cancellation/interruption coverage, lost or damaged baggage coverage, travel accident coverage
2. Chase® Sapphire Reserve
Best for Rewards Program
Editor's Thoughts
If you want a premium travel card with access to the easiest-to-use rewards program, the Chase® Sapphire Reserve might be your best bet. The Chase® Sapphire Reserve charges a $550 annual fee and offers some of the best earnings on travel purchases, in addition to a solid welcome bonus.
Why we like it
This premium travel card is ideal for high travel and dining earners, with valuable travel credits and unique point redemption features.
What we don't like
The high annual fee may not be worth it for those who do not travel frequently or utilize the card's benefits fully.
Credit Card Highlights
Earnings and welcome bonus
- Earn 10X points on hotels and car rentals when you book through Chase® Travel after the first $400 is spent on travel purchases each year.
- Earn 10X points on Chase® Dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards.
- Earn 5X points on flights when you book through Chase® Travel after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases each year.
- Earn 3X points on dining at restaurants, including delivery, takeout, and dining out.
- Earn 3X points on other travel purchases after the first $300 is spent on travel each year.
- Earn 1X points on all other purchases
- Introductory offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening
Travel perks
- $300 annual travel credit
- Up to $100 fee credit for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application every four years
- Access to Chase® Sapphire Lounges
- Access to over 1,300 airport lounges through Priority Pass for you and two guests
- No foreign transaction fees
- Redeem miles through Chase® Travel for 50% more value or transfer at a 1:1 rate to partner airline and hotel programs
- Best-in-class travel protections, including auto rental collision damage waiver, trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, emergency medical and dental benefits, and emergency evacuation and transportation
3. The Platinum Card® by American Express
Best for Lounge Access
Editor's Thoughts
If you want access to the most lounges to make your travel days go a little smoother, no other card provides access to more lounges than The Platinum Card® by American Express. The Platinum Card® from American Express comes in on the high end of the range with its $695 annual fee but is packed full of additional benefits that, if you use them, can easily justify the annual fee.
For digital nomads with their own businesses, the Business Platinum Card® by American Express offers many of the same travel-related perks but offers some differences in the annual credits offered, targeted more toward businesses. This card has a higher $695 annual fee but may be a better fit for some.
Why we like it
Offers unparalleled lounge access and various annual statement credits, making it highly attractive for frequent flyers.
What we don't like
The high annual fee and the need for strategic use of credits may deter some travelers.
Credit Card Highlights
Earnings and welcome bonus
- Earn 5X points on flights booked directly with the airlines or through American Express Travel (up to 500,000 points earned per calendar year)
- Earn 5X points on hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
- Earn 1X points on all other purchases
- Introductory offer: Earn 125,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of account opening
- $200 hotel credit for select prepaid bookings made through American Express Travel
- Up to $240 digital entertainment credit ($20 monthly) with eligible partners like Disney+, Hulu, and The New York Times
- Up to $155 Walmart+ credit (12.95 monthly)
- Up to $200 in Uber Cash for U.S. rides and U.S. Uber Eats ($15 each month, $20 bonus in December)
- Up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits ($50 semi-annually)
- $189 CLEAR Plus Credit
Travel perks
- Access to Amex Centurion Lounges (no guests unless you spend $75,000 annually on your card, then two guests)
- Access to over 1,300 airport lounges through Priority Pass for you and two guests
- Redeem points through American Express or transfer to partner airline and hotel programs
- No foreign transaction fees
- International airline program access for bookings in premium cabins; bookings must originate in and return to the U.S.
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- Hilton Honors Gold status
- Car rental privileges with Avis, Hertz, and National
- Trip delay, trip cancellation, and interruption insurance when you book roundtrip travel
- Car rental loss and damage insurance
4. Chase® Sapphire Preferred
Best for Low Annual Fee
Editor's Thoughts
If you're not up for shelling out multiple hundreds of dollars for an annual fee, the Chase® Sapphire Preferred has many great benefits for a much lower price. For only a $95 annual fee, you'll still earn rewards at a nice rate and have the ability to earn a welcome bonus with the Chase® Sapphire Preferred.
Why we like it
A great starting point for travel rewards beginners, offering flexible point transfers and favorable earning rates on travel and dining.
What we don't like
Lack of airport lounge access compared to other travel cards in a similar price range.
Credit Card Highlights
Earnings and welcome bonus
- Earn 5X on travel purchased through Chase® Travel, excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 annual Chase® Travel hotel credit
- Earn 3X on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out
- Earn 3X on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- Earn 3X on select streaming services
- Earn 2X on all other travel purchases
- Earn 1X on all other purchases
- Introductory offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first three months from account opening
The Sapphire Preferred also offers some annual bonuses:
- Up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays booked through Chase® Travel
- Earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year (ex. $12,000 in annual spending earns 1,200 bonus points)
Travel perks
- No foreign transaction fees
- Redeem miles through Chase® Travel for 25% more value or transfer at a 1:1 rate to partner airline and hotel programs
- Best-in-class travel protections, including auto rental collision damage waiver, trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance
5. Citi Strata Premier
Best for Alternative Rewards
Editor's Thoughts
Citi ThankYou points don't transfer to as many familiar programs compared to Chase® Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards, but for those who want to cast the net a little wider, the City Strata Premier credit card is a great bet. The Citi Strata Premier Card charges a $95 annual fee and offers great earnings rates for a low annual fee card and the ability to earn a sizable welcome bonus.
Why we like it
Versatile with strong rewards on travel, dining, and everyday spending, plus a user-friendly ThankYou Points program.
What we don't like
Some frequent travelers may find the ThankYou Points program less intuitive compared to other rewards programs.
Credit Card Highlights
Earnings and welcome bonus
- Earn 10X on hotel, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
- Earn 3X on air transfer, other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations
- Earn 1X on all other purchases
- $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) booked through CitiTravel.com once per calendar year.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening
Travel perks
- No foreign transaction fees
- Redeem points through Citi Travel or transfer to partner airline and hotel programs
- Travel protections, including MasterRental coverage (car rental insurance), trip delay protection, common carrier trip cancellation, and interruption protection, and lost or damaged luggage protection
6. U.S. Bank Altitude Go
Best for No Annual Fee
Editor's Thoughts
The U.S. Bank Altitude Go card has no annual fee, still offering rewards, including great bonus categories. This, along with a small welcome bonus, make this credit card a genuinely great entry-level option for budget-conscious travelers.
Why we like it
No annual fee and rewards on dining, streaming, groceries, and gas, plus a useful annual streaming credit.
What we don't like
Lacks travel benefits like lounge access and point transfers, limiting the appeal for frequent travelers.
Credit Card Highlights
Earnings and welcome bonus
- Earn 4X on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery
- Earn 2X on streaming services at grocery stores (discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs excluded starting September 9, 2024), and at gas stations/EV charging stations
- Earn 1X on all other eligible purchases
- Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days of opening the account
Travel perks
- No foreign transaction fees
- $15 credit for annual streaming service purchases with eligible subscriptions to Netflix, Apple TV+, Spotify® and more.
Why Do Digital Nomads Need a Specialized Credit Card?
All digital nomads should have a specialized credit card. Yes, some countries operate primarily with cash economies, but you'll at the very least want to have a card in case of an emergency. Many digital nomads do use credit cards routinely, so here are the primary considerations for having a travel-specific card.
Foreign Transaction Fees
Foreign transaction fees are fees charged on any purchase made in a foreign country or in a foreign currency. This fee is often around 3%, though a few cards that charge them have lower foreign transaction fees.
This means that if, as a digital nomad, you spend $1,000 per month on your credit card, you'll pay $30 in foreign transaction fees. Over a year, putting these purchases on a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees will save you $360 — enough to cover a week or more of accommodation in many digital nomad hotspots.
Rewards Programs
The best credit cards for digital nomads also have rewards programs. In this list, we've focused on the cards that offer flexible rewards where you can either redeem your rewards as cash or through the program's travel portal.
Some cards on this list offer transfer partners—meaning you can transfer your points to various airline and hotel loyalty programs. Making the best use of transfer partners will require you to learn about the various programs, but it will increase your points' flexibility and possibly value.
Airline and hotel programs also offer co-branded credit cards, but we don't recommend them as the best cards for digital nomads. A co-branded card may be the right fit if you often fly a specific airline or stay with a specific hotel chain, but they're typically not the best general-purpose travel cards for digital nomads.
Travel Protection
Some of the cards on this list offer various travel protections built into the card. The most common travel protection you'll find on credit cards is an auto rental collision damage waiver, allowing you to decline car rental insurance when you rent a car and save $10 or more per day of your rental.
Other travel protections that may be more useful but aren't quite as widespread include trip delay, baggage delay, trip cancellation/interruption, lost luggage, and emergency medical coverage.
It probably doesn't make sense to choose a card primarily based on the travel protections that come with it, but it's a good idea to take these features into consideration as part of your decision.
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Liam Carnahan
The Bottom Line
It's clear that each card has its unique strengths tailored to different types of digital nomads and digital nomad banking has some of its own challenges. From the comprehensive rewards and travel credits of the Capital One Venture X and Chase® Sapphire Reserve to the extensive lounge access offered by The Platinum Card® by American Express, and the budget-friendly Chase® Sapphire Preferred, there's no one-size-fits-all card.
Each digital nomad should carefully consider their travel frequency, the value they place on specific perks, and how much of an annual fee they're willing to pay. Comparing these features carefully will help you make a choice that not only fits seamlessly into your travel lifestyle but also makes every journey more rewarding.
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