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The 5 best travel insurance credit cards: Benefits matched with protection
Traveling is stressful enough without worrying about whether you have the right travel insurance. It's something that is easy to forego in the rush and excitement of a trip, and yet, travel insurance can end up saving you thousands of dollars if something goes wrong.
Whether you are traveling for work or have simply caught the travel bug, these are the best credit cards for travel insurance before you embark on your voyage.
- Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠.
- Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Travel℠.
- Earn 3x points on other travel and dining.
- Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠.
- Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Travel℠.
- Earn 3x points on other travel and dining.
- Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
With the Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card, you begin earning right away with 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of having the card. If you redeem your points through Chase Ultimate Rewards, it is the equivalent of $900 toward travel. After you spend your first $300 each year, you earn 5x the total points on flights, 10x the total points on hotels and car rentals, and 3x the points on your other travel. If you like eating out, this card is great, too, because you earn 3x the points on dining at restaurants, whether you are dining out, ordering in, or opting for takeout. All other purchases earn one point per dollar.
Chase also offers a few extra perks, like Pay Yourself Back, where you can redeem your points for 50% more when you trade them in for statement credits and use them for rotating categories. At the end of each year, Chase gives you an annual travel credit of up to $300. There are no foreign transaction fees, but many other fees with a $550 annual fee that is typical of American Express but not so much with other credit cards.
Pros:
- Competitive rewards rate
- Generous introductory offer
- Luxury travel benefits
Cons:
- High fees
- Excellent credit recommended
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- 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.
- 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.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card is stacked with rewards, giving you some of the best and most competitive rewards for travel credit cards. When you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months, you receive 60,000 bonus points. If you redeem them through Chase Ultimate Rewards, it is the equivalent of $750 toward travel. Chase will also reward you with up to $50 in statement credits each year when you book your hotels through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
You can also earn 5x the travel points when you book through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Dining rewards earn you 3x the dining points, including takeout and delivery purchases. You also earn 3x the points on your online grocery purchases, but this excludes certain popular retailers, such as Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs like Costco.
There are 3x the points on certain streaming services, 2x points on your other travel purchases, and one point per dollar on all of your other purchases. At the end of the year, Chase gives you a special reward in the form of 10% back on your total annual purchases in bonus points.
Pros:
- Higher rewards for dining and travel
- Introductory offer
- Access to travel partners
Cons:
- Annual fee
- Must book through Chase for the best travel rewards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year
- Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases–with no limit to the amount you can earn
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year
- Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases–with no limit to the amount you can earn
The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card is our pick for travel insurance's best business credit card. The rewards are handsome, too, with 100,000 bonus points when you spend $15,000 in purchases within the first three months of having the card. If you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards, you receive 25% more in bonus points.
Chase also rewards you for purchases in certain categories, like shipping, advertising, travel, internet and phone, with 3x the points on your purchases each year. From there, you earn unlimited 1x per dollar spent. There is no expiration date, either, so you can take your time redeeming them as long as you have the card.
Pros:
- Introductory bonus
- Travel and business rewards
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons:
- No introductory APR offer
- Annual fee applies
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- 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.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- 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.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
The Platinum Card® from American Express might have a steep annual fee, but the rewards are still impressive. After you spend your first $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months, you receive 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points. There are other travel benefits, too, like up to a $200 Hotel Credit when you book through American Express Travel and pay in advance. You can also receive up to a $200 hotel credit on your statement when you book prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® and have a minimum two-night stay at The Hotel Collection booking through American Express Travel. Amex rewards you while you are traveling, too, with access to over 1,400 airport lounges in 650 cities and 140 countries.
There is an up to $200 airline fee statement credit, plus $189 back on your CLEAR® Plus membership annually. Beyond your travel benefits, American Express gives you up to $300 statement credit for Equinox fitness per calendar year and up to $100 when you shop at Saks Fifth Avenue ($50 semi-annually). Other rewards include a $155 Walmart+ credit (subject to auto-renewal), up to a $200 Uber Cash credit, and up to a $240 Digital Entertainment Credit toward entertainment services like Audible, Disney+, and Hulu.
Pros:
- Impressive selection of benefits
- Travel perks
- Built-in elite status
Cons:
- Very high annual fee
- Good to Excellent credit recommended
The Platinum Card® from American Express
How did we choose these travel insurance credit cards?
We consider several factors when determining the best credit cards for travel insurance.
- Travel benefits: Many credit card companies such as Chase and American Express offer special travel insurance to secure your trip against unplanned cancellations.
- APR: Your APR determines how much you spend in interest, so we look for credit cards with low interest to help save you and your family money.
- Fees: Many credit cards also charge fees, such as foreign transaction fees, annual fees, and balance transfer fees. Be sure to review the fee schedule in-depth to ensure that you have the right card for you.
- Introductory offer: Credit cards tend to entice new cardholders with special offers, like bonus points or cash back on your purchases.
Before you commit to a new credit card, we recommend that you carefully review the terms and conditions to ensure that your chosen credit card is the best for you.
Which is the right travel insurance credit card for you?
To help you determine the best credit card for travel insurance, we offer these considerations so you can find the right card for your future travels.
Choose this travel insurance credit card... | If you... |
Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card | Want the overall best protections |
Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card | Don't want to waste money on an annual fee |
Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card | Do not mind an annual fee but do not want to spend a ton either |
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card | Want travel perks for your small business |
The Platinum Card® from American Express | Want travel perks for your Amex |
Is a credit card with travel insurance worth it?
If you are a regular traveler, travel insurance can help you secure both your trip and belongings while you are away from home.
What is the best APR for a travel credit card with insurance?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card has the lowest starting APR at 19.74% with an exclusive introductory offer that includes a 0% APR for the first 15 months.
Are there alternative cards worth considering?
In our search, we found some other excellent credit cards that may make traveling easier for you:
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: A great card for everyday use
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Preferred by Delta loyalists
Opinions expressed here are 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.
While comparing credit cards, consider our expert picks for the best airline credit cards, the best credit cards for travel, and the best international travel credit cards.