Best Credit Cards for Fall Travel in 2019

Travel credit cards make it easy to earn airline miles, hotel points and flexible travel rewards for each dollar you spend. The best travel credit cards also offer perks like airport lounge access, annual travel credits and no foreign transaction fees. Before you dive into travel rewards to save on your next trip, consider this list of top cards for the fall of 2019.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is perfect for travel any time of the year, including this fall. This card does charge a $450 annual fee, but you'll earn 50,000 points once you spend $4,000 in three months. You also earn 3x points on travel and dining and receive unique privileges like $300 in annual travel credits each year, airport lounge access and a credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck.

Despite its $550 annual fee, the Platinum Card from American Express is still a winner with frequent travelers. You'll earn a big signup bonus with this card along with 5x points on airfare booked direct, airfare booked through AmexTravel.com or prepaid hotels booked through the portal. You'll also get an annual airline credit, airport lounge access, up to $200 in Uber credits each year and other benefits.

The Wells Fargo Propel from American Express offers 30,000 points worth $300 after you spend $3,000 within three months. You'll also earn 3x points on dining, several types of transit, flights, hotels, rental cars, homestays and eligible streaming services. You can redeem your rewards for travel, statement credits and more - and all with no annual fee.

The Citi Premier card gives cardholders 60,000 points when they spend $4,000 within three months plus 3x points on travel including gas stations, 2x points on restaurants and entertainment and 1x points on everything else. You can use your points to book travel directly or transfer them to popular travel partners.

If you want more travel benefits, consider the Citi Prestige. This card gives you 50,000 points when you spend $4,000 within three months, but you also get 5x points on dining and flights, 3x points on hotels and cruises and 1x points on everything else. There's a $495 annual fee, but you also receive a $250 travel credit, complimentary 4th-night hotel benefit, airport lounge access and more.

If you like Chase Ultimate Rewards but don't want to pay a huge fee, don't forget about the Chase Sapphire Preferred. This card gives you 60,000 points when you spend $4,000 within three months, plus you'll get 2x points on travel and dining and 1 point per $1 everywhere else. You can use Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book travel directly or transfer to airlines and hotels. You can also redeem for statement credits, gift cards, experiences and more.

The Capital One Venture Rewards card gives cardholders 2x miles on everything they buy and 10x miles on hotel bookings made through Hotels.com. Rewards are redeemable for any type of travel at a rate of one cent per point, but you can also transfer points to a handful of airline partners. You'll even get a credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck, and the $95 annual fee is waived the first year.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card gives you 2x points per dollar on airline purchases and 1 point per $1 on everything else, but you can also earn a big signup bonus after meeting a minimum spending requirement. A $69 annual fee applies, but you can redeem points for free flights, hotel stays and more. You also get 3,000 points on your cardmember anniversary.

Also consider the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card, which is also co-branded with Southwest Airlines. This popular travel credit card gives you a big signup bonus along with 2x points on airline purchases plus 1 point per $1 on everything else. This card comes with a $99 annual fee, but you'll get 6,000 points on your account anniversary.

If you love flying with United Airlines and its partners, check out the United Explorer Card. This card gives you 40,000 miles when you spend $2,000 within three months, but you also get 2x miles on restaurants, hotel stays and United purchases along with 1x miles on all other purchases. The $95 annual fee is waived the first year.

The Ink Business Preferred Card lets you earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points on all your business purchases. You'll start off by earning 80,000 points when you spend $5,000 within three months, but you'll also earn 3x points on up to $150,000 per year spent in popular business categories like travel, shipping and online advertising. That's on top of the 1x points on everything else.

The business version of the Amex Platinum Card comes with a $595 annual fee, but you can also earn up to 100,000 points within three months. In terms of ongoing rewards, you'll earn 5x points on flights and prepaid hotel booked through AmexTravel.com plus 1x points on all other purchases. Cardholder perks include airport lounge access, an annual airline credit, and annual Dell credit, a WeWork membership and more.

If you're eager to start building rewards in the new Marriott Bonvoy program, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card is a solid bet. This card gives you 50,000 points after you spend $2,000 on your card within three months, but you also get 3x points on Marriott purchases, 2x points on other travel purchases and 1x points on anything else you buy. Best of all, there's no annual fee.

Delta SkyMiles can help you score free flights on Delta Air Lines and partners like Air France and KLM. The Gold Delta SkyMiles Card from American Express starts you off with 30,000 miles when you spend $1,000 within three months and a $50 statement credit when you make a Delta purchase within that time. You'll also earn 2 miles per $1 spent on Delta purchases and 1 mile per $1 spent on everything else you buy.

British Airways Avios can be valuable for flights abroad and within the U.S. This card gives you 50,000 miles when you spend $3,000 within three months plus the option to earn another 50,000 miles when you spend $20,000 on your card within one year of account opening. You'll also earn 3x Avios on airline purchases with British Airways or certain partners, 2x Avios on hotels and 1x Avios for all your other purchases. A $95 annual fee applies.

The Hilton Aspire from American Express is an insanely popular hotel credit card despite its $450 annual fee. This card gives you 150,000 points when you spend $4,000 within three months plus 14x points on Hilton purchases and 7x points on flights booked direct or with AmexTravel.com, select car rentals and U.S. restaurants. You also receive 3x points on all other purchases, a free weekend night, Hilton Diamond status, airport lounge access, a $250 annual resort credit, a $250 annual airline credit and more.