Top-tier Credit Cards for Holidays and Travel Deals [2025 Edition]

Vacationing is an exciting time, and planning the perfect trip can be an adventure in itself. Whether you prefer to book travel elements separately or opt for a convenient vacation package, choosing the right credit card can enhance your travel experience and help you save money. In this article, we'll discuss a selection of credit cards that are best for building a trip piece by piece and for vacation packages.

For those with fair to excellent credit scores (580-850), the Citi Double Cash Card offers a simplified earning structure and redemption options, making it a good choice for those who want an easy route to earn and redeem rewards. This card provides 2x points on purchases, with 1% when you buy and 1% as you pay, with no categories, caps, or annual fee. Additionally, you'll earn 5% total cash-back on hotel, car rental, and attractions when booked on the Citi Travel portal.

For those with good to excellent credit scores (670-850), the Chase Freedom FlexSM card offers 5% cash-back on travel purchases, elevated earning on travel, drugstores, and dining, and quarterly bonus category merchants for travel-related gift cards. This card provides 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate, 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in travel purchases, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases, 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, and 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases.

If you're a frequent traveler seeking premium advantages, the American Express Platinum Card may be the ideal choice. This card offers the best overall rewards program for travel packages with benefits like a 200€ annual travel credit, 30,000 welcome points, access to 1,400 airport lounges globally, comprehensive travel insurance, plus status perks at hotels.

For those who prioritise travel purchases, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card provides 5x points on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x points on dining, 3x points on select streaming services and online groceries, 2x points on all other travel purchases, and 1x points on all other purchases, with an annual fee of $95.

Booking travel elements separately can be beneficial if one has points and miles spread across several loyalty programs. However, vacation packages can provide convenience and savings, especially when paired with the right credit card. The Platinum Card from American Express offers 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, and 1X Membership Rewards Point on other purchases.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card is a great choice for those who frequently stay at Marriott properties. This card offers 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 3X Marriott Bonvoy points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, 2X Marriott Bonvoy points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card, and an annual fee of $650.

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is another excellent option for frequent Hilton guests. This card offers 14x Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your card at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for eligible travel purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery, 3x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for other eligible purchases on your card, and an annual fee of $550.

Ultimately, the best credit card for vacation packages and building a trip piece by piece depends on your travel habits, credit score, and preferences. By considering the options available, you can choose a card that best suits your needs and maximises your travel rewards.