2019's Best Rewards Credit Cards (And Where They Can Take You)

The new year is a great time to dream up new goals, including any aspirational travel fantasies you have. Fortunately, travel rewards credit cards can help you check off your travel bucket list - one mile at a time. Here are the top travel credit cards for 2019 and some places they could take you.

The Hilton Aspire Credit Card from American Express made a splash in the hotel card scene in 2018, and it continues to wow users this year. This card offers a huge signup bonus, a free weekend night your first year and on your anniversary, a $250 annual resort credit, a $250 annual airline credit, and automatic Hilton Diamond status in exchange for a $450 annual fee. What more could you want?

While there are Hilton properties you can book with rewards all over the world, there numerous options all over Hawaii. One of the most popular Hilton redemptions is in Maui at the Grand Wailea. This Waldorf Astoria property features expansive rooms, a sprawling beachfront, a pool with a hidden grotto bar, and more.

Another popular Hilton Honors option is the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. This luxury resort allows you to book an overwater bungalow for just 95,000 points per night. Also, remember that your 5th night is free when you book with points.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve isn't a new card by any means, but it continues to be one of the best in 2019. Not only do you earn 50,000 points after you spend $4,000 within three months, but you get a $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass Select membership, and TSA/Global Entry credit. You do have to pay a $450 annual fee, but the perks are worth it.

One of the biggest benefits of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program is the fact that you can transfer points 1:1 to popular destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and around the U.S. You'll even be able to use Southwest points to fly to Hawaii sometime in 2019.

You can also transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points 1:1 to the World of Hyatt program for an all-inclusive stay in the beautiful country of Mexico. Hyatt offers luxury all-inclusive resorts in Cancun and Los Cabos, and some of their properties are even for adults-only.

Another popular redemption for Chase Ultimate Rewards is transferring points to the Air France /Flying Blue program. This option lets you book flights to various airports around Europe for as little as 21,500 miles one-way plus airline taxes and fees.

The Citi Premier Card is another popular option with flexible points you can use in more than one way. Currently, you'll also earn 50,000 points worth $625 in airfare after you spend $4,000 on your card within three months of account opening plus 3x points on travel including gas stations. You'll also get 2x points on restaurants and entertainment and 1x points on all other purchases.

While the Citi Premier Card does offer the best redemption value when you book airfare, there are other ways to cash in your points. You can use them to book excursions and tours, hotels around the globe, and even cruises! The fact that you have so many options is one of the reasons Citi ThankYou points are so valuable.

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard is an insanely popular flexible card that doles out 2x miles for each dollar you spend. You'll also earn 70,000 miles after you spend $5,000 on your card within 90 days of account opening.

The best part about the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard is that you can use the points you earn however you want. Each point is worth one cent, so your 70,000-point welcome bonus is good for $700 in airfare, hotels, and more. Keep in mind, however, that all redemptions need to be at least 10,000 miles ($100) or more.

In addition to obvious travel redemptions like hotels, the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard lets you redeem points for campgrounds, train tickets, cruises, car rentals, and more. This makes these points extremely popular for people who travel off the beaten path.

One of the most popular ways to cash in Barclaycard miles is for cruises, mostly because they are normally difficult to book with other types of rewards. With enough Barclaycard miles in your account, you could cover all or part of a family cruise to the Caribbean, Bermuda, or Mexico!

As an alternative to the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard, also consider the Capital One Venture. This card doles out the same 2x points for each dollar you spend, and you can redeem them for travel at one cent per point. For a limited time, you'll also earn 50,000 miles worth $500 in travel after you spend $3,000 within three months of account opening.

Southwest Airlines is frequently named as the nation's top airline for families, and for good reason. This airline offers two free checked bags per person and comes with a flexible cancellation policy. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card lets you earn points in a hurry with 2x points on Southwest purchases, 1x points on everything else you buy, and a big initial welcome bonus you can earn right away.

One big benefit of the Southwest Rapid Rewards program is the fact you can redeem points to fly internationally. The airline's popular Caribbean destinations include Aruba, Turks and Caicos, Grand Cayman, Punta Cana, Montego Bay, Nassau, Cancun, and many other tropical locales.

The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard is offering 50,000 miles after you spend $3,000 within three months of account opening. You also get a free checked bag and priority boarding, which could help make flying a lot more convenient. This card does have a $99 annual fee, but it's waived for the first 12 months.

While the American AAdvantage program has a lot of sweet spots, its off-peak flights to Europe are one of their most popular redemptions. From November through April (excluding holidays), you can book round-trip flights to Europe for just 45,000 miles plus government-mandated taxes and fees.

If you need a break from cold weather or simply crave a change of scenery, the beauty of Mexico is well within reach with American AAdvantage miles. In fact, you can redeem just 12,5000 miles one-way with a MileSAAver off-peak award. That's just 25,000 miles round-trip.

The Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card is another winner, and you could even earn a signup bonus worth up to 75,000 miles. While Delta Air Lines doesn't publish an award chart, you can frequently find round-trip domestic flights for 25,000 miles or less and round-trip flights to Europe for 50,000 miles or less.

The World of Hyatt Credit Card lets you earn 25,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases within three months and another 25,000 points after you spend $6,000 total on purchases within six months of account opening. That's enough for ten free nights at a Category 1 hotel.

If you want to redeem your Hyatt points in the fanciest way possible, consider cashing in 30,000 points per night at the Park Hyatt Vendome. This upscale hotel would normally set you back up to $1,000 per night, and it boasts one of the most luxurious (and convenient) locations in all of Paris.

You can also cash in 25,000 Hyatt points to stay at the all-inclusive Hyatt Ziva or Hyatt Zilara properties in Rose Hall, Jamaica. While the Hyatt Ziva brand is perfect for families, the Hyatt Zilara is for adults only. Both properties feature beautiful beaches, excellent gourmet food, and plenty of fun nightlife.

The Platinum Card from American Express gives consumers 60,000 Membership Rewards points after they spend $5,000 on their card within three months of account opening. You also get $200 in annual Uber credits, an annual $200 airline fee credit, 5x points on airfare booked through AmexTravel.com and airlines, a Global Entry or TSA Precheck credit, and a Priority Pass Select membership. You do have to pay a $550 annual fee.

While the American Express Membership Rewards program lets you transfer points 1:1 to popular airline and hotel programs, you can also use points to book travel directly through AmexTravel.com. This option gives you the flexibility to book travel anywhere you want and on any dates without having to find award availability.