Last Updated: 3/28/24 | March 28th, 2024
Nomadic Matt has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Some or all of the card offers on this page are from advertisers and compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. Nomadic Matt and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. This page does not include all card companies or all available card offers.
One of the best parts about running a business is the cool business travel credit cards you get access to. These cards tend to have a lot better points-earning abilities and perks than consumer cards. I’ve been running this website for eleven years and have tried a lot of cards during that time.
I’m often asked by other bloggers, creators, and entrepreneurs which business travel credit card is the best.
Well, first, let me say, there is no “best.”
Every business is different, and everyone has different needs. For example, I love the Amex Platinum card’s Delta lounge perk since I fly Delta a lot. (The Centurion Lounges are wonderful too.) Similarly, I love the Delta card because the Medallion Qualification Miles (MQM) bonus helps me maintain my status. But if you aren’t a Delta flier, then that card doesn’t make sense for you. I also use Chase Ink a lot because their Ultimate Rewards points transfer to a lot of airlines I want to fly. But maybe you like to fly other airlines.
Everyone is different. I have friends who live by American Airlines card, Citi Cards, American Express, and so forth. We’re all different.
So ask yourself, “What is my goal?”
Are you interested in loyalty to a brand, free rewards, or avoiding fees? Do you want to milk the rewards and bonus system to get free flights, or do you just want a card that won’t charge you a fee for using it at that restaurant in Brazil? Is elite status the most important perk for you? Do you want points you can use like cash for anything?
Get the card that aligns with your goals.
But, while there is no one “best” card, there are some that are better than others. Here is my list of favorite travel-related business credit cards.
Table of Contents
Capital One Venture X Business
Capital One has improved its line-up of Venture cards yet again with the addition of the card_name in the fall of 2023. This card is very similar to the Capital One Venture X personal card, with a straight-forward 2x miles earned on every purchase. Where this card really stands out is with its current welcome offer (more on that below). This card comes with a $395 annual fee.
With this card, you’ll earn:
- 150,000 miles once you spend $20,000 in the first 3 months, and an additional 150,000 miles once you spend $100,000 in the first 6 months
- 2x miles on every purchase
- 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
- $100 statement credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry
- $100 experience credit at luxury hotels and resorts in the Premier Collection
- 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date
- Ability to transfer to 15 Capital One transfer partners
- Free cards for employees
- Unlimited access to Capital One lounges as well as access to Priority Pass and Plaza Premium lounges
- No foreign transaction fees
—> LEARN MORE <—
Chase Ink Business Preferred Card
The card_name is my favorite all-around business card. The 3 points per dollar in main business categories (on the first $150,000 spent each account anniversary year) and the low annual fee makes it unbeatable. It’s a simple, straightforward biz card, and the current welcome offer is awesome. This card offers:
- 100,000 points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- 3x points on shipping, advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines, internet, cable and phone services, and travel (on the first $150,000 spent each account anniversary year)
- 5x points on Lyft rides until March 2025
- 1x points on everything else (unlimited)
- Employee cards at no extra cost
- Cell phone, purchase, extended warranty protection
- Travel protections including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, primary rental car coverage
- Redeem points for travel through Chase Travel(SM) and they’re worth 25% more
- No foreign transaction fees
—> LEARN MORE <—
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
This is one of the best business cards out there, especially if you’re a Delta flyer or make a lot of large purchases. American Express is known for their perks. If you want quality customer care and lots of benefits, you’ve got to get this card. With this card, you can earn:
- 120,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $15,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months
- 5X Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com
- 1.5x points per dollar on each eligible purchase 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
- $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline
- Up to $400 in credit with Dell, $360 credit with Indeed, $150 credit with Adobe (enrollment required)
- Lounge access with the American Express Global Lounge Membership and Priority Pass membership
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- Hilton Honors Gold status
- Up to $100 in statement credits for Global Entry or TSA Pre-check every 4 years
- $189 yearly CLEAR® Plus credit (subject to auto-renewal)
- No foreign transaction fees
While the annual fee is pretty high ($695, pay over time available. Rates and Fees. Terms apply.), it does come with a lot of travel benefits that I tend to use a lot. The added statement credits and lounge access make the card worth carrying for me.
—> LEARN MORE <—
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
I like this card because you get two points on everything. It’s simple. So I use this for the non-bonus categories like paying vendors, restaurants, and whatever else doesn’t come with a bonus from Amex or Chase. Whatever I can’t get 3 points per dollar on them with, I use this card for. This card offers:
- 50,000 miles when you spend $4,500 within the first three months
- 2x miles on every purchase
- 5x miles on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One travel
- Points transfer to any of their 15+ travel partners
- Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- No foreign transaction fees
- $0 intro for the first year, $95 annually after that
—> LEARN MORE <—
American Express® Business Gold Card
This is a great card to earn extra points on your biggest business expenses, as you can earn up to 4x points on the two categories where you business spends the most (up to $150,000 each year). I make sure to use this card when paying for purchases in my two largest spending categories. This card comes with a $375 yearly fee. Rates & Fees; Terms Apply. With this card, you can earn:
- 70,000 points when you spend $10,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months
- 4X points on the 2 categories (from 6 eligible categories) where your business spends the most each billing cycle, up to $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year
- 3X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com
- Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores (Enrollment required.)
- Get $12.95 back in statement credits each month when you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal)
- No foreign transaction fees
—> LEARN MORE <—
Airline and Hotel Business Cards
What about airline and hotel cards? Well, you should get the card for the airline and/or hotel you’re loyal to because they come with free checked bags and preferred boarding and a few other perks. I tend not to use them for my everyday spending since you get better value per dollar spent with Chase or American Express.
I always get the cards for the bonus offer and then keep the cards for the everyday perks so I ensure I get free checked bags, priority boarding, and upgrade opportunities. Most fees are only $95 a year so it’s an easy business expense.
Here are my favorite business cards for various airlines and hotels along with some of their main perks:
Hotel Business Cards:
card_name – Earn 3 Free Night Awards after you use your new card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months. (Redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy(R) points for each bonus Free Night Award, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy(R). Certain hotels have resort fees.) Earn 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program, 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping, 2X on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply. Rates & fees.
card_name – Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card within the first six months. Offer Ends 6/5. Receive complimentary Hilton Honors(TM) Gold Status, 12X directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio, 6X at U.S. gas stations, on U.S. purchases for shipping, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants, 3X on all other eligible purchases. Terms apply. Rates and fees.
Airline Business Cards:
card_name – Earn 65,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Earn 1.5 miles per dollar on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (terms and miles cap apply), free checked bag, fee credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry, Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights, and Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal. Terms apply. $350 annual fee.
There’s also the impressive card_name, with which you can earn 75,000 Bonus Miles after spending $10,000 in your first six months of card membership. See Rates and Fees
card_name – Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Earn 3x points on Southwest purchases, 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and rental car partners as well as on local transit and commuting (including ride sharing). 6,000 point anniversary bonus.
card_name – Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. $99 annual fee. Earn 2x points on United purchases, dining, gas stations, transit, and office supply stores. 2 free United Club passes per year and free checked bag.
There are a lot of options for business cards, so you can always find something to meet your needs. I usually split my spending between a few cards and then shift my spending if I need to hit any bonus requirements. I have a Delta card for the pay-with-points option, a Marriott card because I stay there a lot, and Chase and American Express cards for everything else.
If you don’t want this many cards and want to keep things simple, stick to a hotel or airline card for the perks and then pick whatever one other card has the most perks you need and just use those!
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- SafetyWing (best for everyone)
- Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
- Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)
Want to Travel for Free?
Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.
Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.
Ready to Book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.
Advertiser Disclosure: “Nomadic Matt has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Some or all of the card offers on this page are from advertisers and compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. Nomadic Matt and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.”
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. This page does not include all card companies or all available card offers.
For rates and fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, see rates and fees.
For rates and fees for the American Express® Business Gold Card, see rates and fees.
For rates and fess for The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, see rates and fees.
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles(R) Platinum Business American Express Card, see rates and fees.