The Best Business Travel Credit Cards for Digital Nomads

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 The Business Platinum Card® from American Express because it comes with Delta SkyClub lounge access when flying Delta, and I fly Delta a lot. (The Centurion Lounges are wonderful too.)

Similarly, I love the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express 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 the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card 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. 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.

 

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:

• Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
• Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card®
• Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
• Make the Business Platinum Card® work even harder for you. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required.
• 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, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• $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 (enrollment required)
• Hilton Honors Gold status (enrollment required)
• Up to $120 in statement credits for Global Entry or TSA Pre-check every 4 years
• Up to $199 yearly CLEAR® Plus credit (subject to auto-renewal)
• No foreign transaction fees

While the annual fee is pretty high ($695, pay over time available. See Rates and Fees), 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.

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Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card 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:

• Earn 90,000 bonus 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
• 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

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Capital One Venture X Business

Capital One has improved its line-up of Venture cards yet again with the addition of the Capital One Venture X Business in the fall of 2023. This card is very similar to the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, with a straight-forward 2x miles per dollar 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 $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
• 2x miles per dollar on every purchase
• 10x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Up to $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
• Up to $120 statement credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry
• Up to $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from 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 Lounge locations and membership to Priority Pass through the Partner Lounge Network
• No foreign transaction fees

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Capital One Spark Miles for Business

I like this card because you get two miles per dollar on everything. It’s simple. So I use this for categories like paying vendors as well as any other categories that don’t come with a bonus from American Express or Chase. This card offers:

• Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $4,500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
• 2x miles per dollar on every purchase
• 5x miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals, and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Miles transfer to any of their 15+ travel partners
• Up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• No foreign transaction fees
• $0 introductory fee for the first year, $95 annually after that

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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 your business spends the most (from 6 eligible categories, 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:

• Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
• 4x Membership Rewards points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4x points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1x thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.*
• Earn 3x Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.*
• Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores (Enrollment required.)
• Get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.* (Enrollment required.)
• No foreign transaction fees
• *Terms apply

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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 those benefits and then pick whatever one other card has the most perks you need!