Best Travel Credit Cards for Families of 2025
We evaluated the top travel rewards credit cards for families on points value, travel perks, annual fee ROI, and family-specific benefits.
5 items ranked · Last reviewed January 2025
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The premium travel card with the best points value for families
The Chase Sapphire Reserve delivers the best combination of points value, travel protection, and family perks. The $300 travel credit essentially cuts the fee in half, Priority Pass lounge access for the whole family makes layovers bearable, and Chase Ultimate Rewards are the most flexible points currency available.
PROS
- ✓3x points on travel and dining — where families spend the most
- ✓$300 annual travel credit effectively reduces fee to $250
- ✓Priority Pass lounge access includes kids at no extra charge
CONS
- ✕$550 annual fee requires active use to justify
- ✕Points transfer to partners requires some learning curve
Capital One Venture X
Premium travel perks at the most reasonable annual fee
The Capital One Venture X makes a compelling argument that premium travel doesn't require a $550 fee. With credits that completely offset the $395 annual fee, a massive signup bonus, and access to Capital One's growing lounge network, it's the best value premium travel card on the market.
PROS
- ✓$300 annual travel credit + $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit offset the fee completely
- ✓10x on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- ✓Capital One Lounge access — newer, often less crowded than Priority Pass
CONS
- ✕Lounge network smaller than Chase's Priority Pass
- ✕Fewer transfer partners than Chase Ultimate Rewards
American Express Gold Card
4x points at grocery stores — the family card for foodies
For families who spend heavily at grocery stores and restaurants — most families — the Amex Gold's 4x earnings are unmatched. A family spending $2,000/month on groceries and dining earns 96,000 points annually, worth $1,200+ in travel. The credits bring the effective fee to under $100.
PROS
- ✓4x Membership Rewards at US supermarkets (up to $25K/year)
- ✓4x at restaurants — massive for family dining and takeout
- ✓$120 dining credit and $120 Uber Cash annually offset much of the fee
CONS
- ✕No airport lounge access at this tier
- ✕$325 annual fee requires high grocery/dining spending to optimize
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The best starter travel card with serious points potential
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best entry point for family travel rewards. At $95/year with access to the full Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer network, it delivers nearly the same strategic value as the Reserve at a fraction of the cost — making it the right starting card for most families.
PROS
- ✓3x on dining, 2x on travel at a $95 annual fee — exceptional value
- ✓Access to all Chase transfer partners — same network as Reserve
- ✓$50 annual hotel credit essentially reduces fee to $45
CONS
- ✕No airport lounge access
- ✕Lower earning rates than Reserve in some categories
Citi Strata Premier
3x across the most spending categories of any $95 card
The Citi Strata Premier's 3x earning across hotels, air, restaurants, grocery, AND gas is the broadest bonus category coverage of any $95 travel card. For families with significant spending across all these categories, the straightforward earning structure maximizes points without tracking complex bonus categories.
PROS
- ✓3x on hotels, air, restaurants, grocery, and gas — broadest earning of any $95 card
- ✓$100 hotel annual credit offsets the annual fee
- ✓Strong transfer partners including Turkish Miles&Smiles and Flying Blue
CONS
- ✕Citi ThankYou points slightly less flexible than Chase UR or Amex MR
- ✕No lounge access or premium travel protections