Best Travel Credit Cards For Fair Credit Of May 2024

The Citi Custom Cash® Card packs potential for some serious bonus rewards in spending categories that matter to travelers. It comes with no annual fee, plus it offers a welcome bonus and introductory APR to sweeten the deal.

Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on purchases in a top eligible spend category up to the first $500 spent each billing cycle, 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025 and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn $200 in cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. The bonus points come in the form of 20,000 ThankYou® Points that can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: Many of the Citi Custom Cash® Card’s eligible bonus categories are of interest to travelers. They include select travel, select transit, gas stations, restaurants and more.

And you can also enjoy a 0% introductory APR for 15 months from date of account opening on purchases and from date of first transfer for balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on creditworthiness. There is also a balance transfer fee of 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum. The card does charge a 3% foreign transaction fee, so it’s not the best choice if you plan to travel abroad. It also doesn’t offer any travel-related benefits beyond the bonus categories.

The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card offers an elevated cash-back rate on every purchase for a modest annual fee and no foreign transaction fees (rates & fees).

Rewards: Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply).

Welcome offer: This card does not offer a welcome bonus.

Annual fee: $39

Other benefits and drawbacks: The lack of foreign transaction fees could make this card worth a look if you travel frequently outside the U.S. And the fact that it’s marketed directly to those with fair credit is a plus if you’re starting (or restarting) your credit journey.

The Credit One Bank Wander® Card does charge an annual fee, but it could be well worth the cost for travelers thanks to its nearly unbeatable bonuses for travel-related spending.

Rewards: Earn 10 points per dollar on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner, 5 points per dollar on eligible travel, dining and gas and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: This card does not offer a welcome bonus.

Annual fee: $95

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Credit One Bank Wander® Card earns 5% to 10% back on travel purchases with no maximum rewards limit. You can also automatically earn bonus rewards when shopping from top retailers that can be redeemed for a statement credit, gift cards or travel.

The Citi Double Cash® Card reigns supreme in the flat-rate cash back category. However, its 3% foreign transaction fee might dissuade frequent international travelers.

Rewards: Earn 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off.

Welcome offer: Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Citi Double Cash® Card earns an impressive 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off. For those who will be transferring a balance, the Double Cash offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the standard variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on creditworthiness. An intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies to transfers completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

Zolve Black is the top-tier of credit cards marketed for students and working professionals moving to the U.S., although it’s available for U.S. citizens as well. It comes with solid rewards options and flexible eligibility requirements.

Rewards: Earn up to 5% cash back on 5 brands of your choice (up to $3,000 in spend per quarter) and 1.5% cash back on everything else.

Welcome offer: Earn 5,000 reward points (worth $50) upon completion of milestones and tasks provided in the card application.

Annual fee: $29.99/month or $299 (if paid annually)

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Zolve Black card doesn’t come with a foreign transaction fee, but it does have a “subscription fee” that takes the place of an annual fee. You can pay the subscription fee as $29.99/month or $299 (if paid annually), but you must choose the annual version if you want a Mastercard-branded Zolve card that packs a few travel-related benefits, including LoungeKey airport lounge access, airport concierge service and global emergency services.

The Zolve Black’s ongoing APR is lower than average. It also doesn’t require a credit history or Social Security number to apply, as long as you can show a visa and passport and provide basic personal information. If you’re coming from another country and need a U.S. credit card, this could be an option.

The card offers rewards of up to 5% cash back on 5 brands of your choice (up to $3,000 in spend per quarter) and 1.5% cash back on everything else with the monthly fee option.

The Zolve Signature* card charges a lower annual fee than the higher-tier Zolve Black* in exchange for slightly more modest benefits. Like its more expensive sibling, the Zolve Signature could be particularly appealing to students or professionals new to the U.S.

Rewards: Earn up to 3% cash back on 3 brands of your choice (up to $1,500 in spend per quarter) and 1% cash back on everything else.

Welcome offer: Earn 2,500 reward points (worth $25) upon completion of milestones and tasks provided in the card application.

Annual fee: $9.99/month or $99 (if paid annually)

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Zolve Signature card provides 1% back on all purchases, plus the opportunity to choose three brands that you’ll earn 3% on, up to the quarterly cap. There’s also no foreign transaction fee.

However, the Zolve Signature card has a subscription fee of $9.99/month or $99 (if paid annually). Even though this isn’t labeled as an annual fee, it amounts to the same thing. If you pay annually, you also get a smattering of Mastercard-related benefits, like airport concierge and global emergency services.

This is the basic version of the Zolve credit card. Perhaps this card’s biggest benefit is its lack of fees: It has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.

Rewards: Earn 1% cashback on all eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 1,500 reward points (worth $15) upon completion of milestones and tasks provided in the card application.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: Cardholders get 1% cashback on all eligible purchases and a welcome bonus valued at $15 in points. If you receive the Mastercard-branded version, you also get access to global emergency services and the curated experiences of Mastercard Priceless Cities—but that’s about it for travel-related benefits.

If you’re just starting your credit journey, the Chase Freedom Rise℠ is a smart choice. It has no annual fee, a nice cash-back earnings rate and other benefits that you won’t find with many cards in this category. However, international travelers might want to consider other credit cards as this one does have a foreign transaction fee of 3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars..

Rewards: Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase.

Welcome offer: Earn a $25 statement credit after signing up for automatic payments within the first three months of account opening.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: It’s not often that you find a cash-back card with no annual fee that’s targeted specifically to people who don’t have much of a credit history. The Chase Freedom Rise℠ even offers an opportunity to boost your odds of approval by opening a Chase checking account and depositing at least $250. Other notable benefits include purchase protection, extended warranty protection and trip cancellation and interruption insurance.