The Citi Premier® Card is no longer available for new applicants.
Many travel credit cards require applicants to have at least good credit — typically scores 670 and above. However, some credit cards are tailored to consumers rebuilding their credit scores. These credit cards are easier to qualify for but often lack the benefits and rewards available with the best credit cards. That said, there are travel credit cards for consumers with less-than-perfect credit that allow you to rebuild or establish your credit and earn cash back, points or miles.
Below, CNBC Select rounds up the best travel credit cards for fair credit, including cards with generous rewards structures, welcome bonuses and intro APR offers.(Seeour methodologyfor information on how we chose the best fair credit travel credit cards).
Best travel credit cards for fair credit
- Best for welcome bonus: Discover it® Secured Credit Card
- Best for 0% intro APR: Citi Custom Cash® Card
- Best for students: Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
- Best for cash back: Bank of America®Customized Cash Rewards Secured
- Best for unsecured cards: Chase Freedom Rise℠
- Best for earning rewards: Credit One Bank Wander® Card
Best for welcome bonus
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
On Discover's secure site
Rewards
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus
Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
N/A on purchases
Regular APR
28.24% Variable
Balance transfer fee
3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
New / Rebuilding
*See rates and fees, terms apply.
Read our Discover it® Secured Credit Card review.
Pros
- Cash-back program
- Generous welcome bonus
- Starting at seven months from account opening, Discover will automatically review your credit card account to see if you can transition to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit
Cons
- Cash-back program limits earnings: 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1%
- Low credit line prevents cardholders from charging high-cost items or many expenses
Who's this for? The Discover it® Secured Credit Card stands out for having a unique and potentially lucrative welcome bonus. Plus, the card chargesno foreign transaction fees making it a for international travel.
Standout benefits: Discover automatically matches all the cash back earned at the end of your first year regardless of how much you spend. Plus, cardholders 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter), which is generous for a secured card.
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Best for 0% intro APR
Citi Custom Cash® Card
On Citi's secure site
Rewards
Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.
Welcome bonus
Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% APR on balance transfers and purchases for first 15 months
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.24% variable
Balance transfer fee
5% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum)
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Credit needed
Excellent, Good, Fair
See rates and fees. Terms apply.
Read our Citi Custom Cash® Card review.
Pros
- No annual fee
- 5% cash back in eligible spend categories like restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment
- $200 cash back welcome bonus if meet spending threshold
Cons
- 5% cash back is limited to top spend category, up to the first $500 spent
- 3% foreign transaction fee when traveling outside the U.S.
Who's this for? The Citi Custom Cash® Card is a great fit for anyone who may need extra time to pay for their travels thanks to its generous 15-month 0% APR introductory offer on purchases and balance transfers (after, 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR)
Standout benefits: Cardholders earn 5% cash back (up to the first $500 spent and then 1%) on their top spending category each billing cycle. The categories include restaurants and grocery stores, gas stations, select travel, select transit and more. Plus, a special travel offer: earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025. Cash-back is awarded as Citi ThankYou® Points, which can be transferred to select travel partners.
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Best for students
Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students credit card
Rewards
Unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases
Welcome bonus
25,000 online bonus points after you spend at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening, which can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward qualifying travel and dining purchases
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% APR for the first 15 billing cycles on purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account
Regular APR
18.24% - 28.24% variable
Balance transfer fee
3% of each transaction intro balance transfer fee for the first 60 days from account opening, then 4%
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Good/Excellent
Terms apply.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Strong welcome bonus of 25,000 points if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days
- Intro 0% APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers
- No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
Cons
- No student-centric benefits or incentives to practice responsible credit behavior
- Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $466
- Estimated rewards earned after 5 years:$1,528
Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus
Who's this for? The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students is ideal for students looking to study or travel abroad with no foreign transaction fees, a solid intro bonus and no annual fee.
Standout benefits: Student credit cards typically aren't designed with rewards in mind. However, this card earns 1.5X points on every purchase. That rate of return is 50% higher than what you'd earn with a typical rewards credit card for spending outside of bonus categories.
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Best for cash back
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card
Rewards
3% on a category of your choice and 2% on grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category and grocery stores purchases) and 1% on all other eligible purchases.
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
28.24% variable
Balance transfer fee
4% of the amount of each transaction
Foreign transaction fee
3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction made in a foreign currency
Credit needed
Poor/No credit history
Terms apply.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Flexible bonus cash-back categories
Cons
- 3% foreign transaction fee
Who's this for? The Bank of America®Customized Cash Rewards Secured may be for you if you want to earn generous cash-back rewards for travel purchases.
Standout benefits: This card earns 3% cash back in one of six categories you can choose each month and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on up to $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then 1% back). The choice categories include travel-re and travel-related purchases such as gas and EV charging stations and dining. Cash-back is useful for booking travel because it can offset any travel-related expense without the restrictions typically attached to miles and points.
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Best for unsecured cards
Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card
Rewards
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
Welcome bonus
Earn a $25 statement credit after signing up for automatic payments within the first three months of opening your account.
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
26.99% variable APR
Balance transfer fee
5% or $5 of each transfer, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee
3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Credit needed
New/Rebuilding
Terms apply. Information about the Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
Pros
- Low/no credit score requirement
- Generous rewards for everyday purchases
Cons
- Foreign transaction fee
- Small welcome offer
Who's this for? The Chase Freedom Rise℠ is a great option for establishing your credit and a relationship with Chase, which issues many top travel credit cards.
Standout benefits: The Chase Freedom Rise earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases, which is a high rate of return for a starter credit card. If you or a household member have a card that allows point transfers (like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card), you can move the rewards you earn from your Freedom Rise onto that card and transfer them to any of the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel partners.
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Best for earning rewards
Credit One Bank Wander® Card
On Credit One's secure site
Rewards
10X points on eligible hotels and rental cars book through the Credit One Bank travel partner; 5X points on eligible flights, dining and gas purchases; 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
No current offer
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
29.74% Variable
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Average to excellent credit
See rates and fees. Terms apply.
Pros
- Great return on travel purchases
- Available to those with average credit
Cons
- High APR
- No welcome bonus
Who's this for? The Credit One Bank Wander® Card is worth considering if you have average credit and want to earn the most rewards for your travel spending.
Standout benefits: Eligible travel, including flights, dining and gas purchases, earn a generous 5X points, and you can earn a whopping 10X points on eligible hotels and rental cars you book through the Credit One Bank travel partner site. You can redeem points for one cent each toward statement credits, so you're earning 5% to 10% back on a large swath of travel spending.
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More on our top travel credit cards for fair credit
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is a secured credit card that earns valuable rewards for gas station and restaurant spending, as well as a potentially lucrative welcome bonus.
Rewards
- 2% back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1% back
- 1% back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Discover will match all of the cash back you earn at the end of your first year.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card requires a refundable security deposit of at least $200, which then becomes your credit limit. After seven months, Discover will review your account to see if you can be moved to an unsecured card and have your deposit refunded.
Since this card has no foreign transaction fees, you won't be dinged for using it abroad.
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Citi Custom Cash® Card
The Citi Custom Cash® Card is a no-annual-fee card that offers a solid welcome bonus and flexible spending categories that automatically adjust to your biggest spending category each billing cycle.
Rewards
- 5% cash back on purchases in the top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent (then 1%)
- 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025
- Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
New Citi Custom Cash® Card members receive an intro 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months (after, 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR). The standard balance transfer fee is 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum).
You can redeem the rewards you earn with this card in various ways, such as toward gift cards, statement credits and to book travel through the ThankYou travel center. You can also transfer your points to a limited number of Citi's travel partners including, JetBlue TrueBlue, Wyndham Rewards and Choice Privileges.
As you improve your credit, you can boost the value of your rewards by pairing the card with one that provides access to all of Citi's ThankYou travel partners, such as the Citi Premier® Card.
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Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students is a student credit card with a generous intro bonus and rewards structure. This makes it an excellent option for those looking to build their credit and earn travel rewards.
Rewards
- 1.5X points on all purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 25,000 points after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
This card has no foreign transaction fees sopurchases made outside the U.S. won't incur the typical 3% charge. It also offers an intro 0% APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and balance transfers you complete in the first 60 days of account opening (after that the APR is a variable 18.24% to 28.24%). There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transaction made within 60 days of account opening. The standard balance transfer fee is 4% of the amount of each transaction.
You can redeem the points you earn for statement credits for restaurant purchases and all sorts of travel, including flights, hotels, cruises, rental cars and more.
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Bank of America®Customized Cash Rewards Secured
The Bank of America®Customized Cash Rewards Secured is a credit-builder card that offers a range of bonus spending categories you normally won't find with a secured credit card.
Rewards
- 3% cash back in one of the following categories you choose: Travel, gas and EV charging stations, online shopping, dining, drug stores and pharmacies and home improvement or furnishings*
- 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs*
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
*You'll earn 3% cash back and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in your choice category and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then 1% cash back.
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
To open this card, you'll need a minimum opening deposit of $200 and can deposit up to $5,000. Your credit limit is based on factors such as the size of your security deposit and your income. Your account will be periodically reviewed and based on your credit and relationship with Bank of America, you mayqualify to transition to an unsecured card and have your deposit .
You can redeem the cash back you earn for any amount as a statement credit or direct deposit.
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Chase Freedom Rise℠
The Chase Freedom Rise℠ is a no annual fee card geared toward those just starting their credit journey. It offers an elevated rate of return on everyday purchases that you normally only see on credit cards with higher credit requirements.
Rewards
- 5% cash back on Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025)
- 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn a $25 statement credit after enrolling in automatic payments within the first three months of opening your account.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
Eligible items you purchase with this card qualify for purchase protection and extended warranty protection. You can also be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for eligible prepaid non-refundable fares with this card's trip cancellation and interruption insurance.
This card also qualifies for several limited-time partner benefits. Cardholders can enroll to receive three free months of DoorDash DashPass (enroll by Dec. 31, 2024). After the three free months, you'll be automatically enrolled at 50% off for the next nine months. You can also take advantage of three free months of Instacart+ (enroll by July 31, 2024). After the free Instacart+ membership expires, you'll be automatically enrolled in an annual membership unless you cancel. After you're enrolled, you'll also receive up to $10 in statement credits each quarter (through July 31, 2024) for eligible Instacart purchases you make with your Freedom Rise card.
You can redeem your cash-back rewards for a direct deposit or statement credit to offset travel expenses. You can also use rewards to book travel through Chase Travel℠. After you build your credit history, you can upgrade to a Chase Freedom Flex® or Chase Freedom Unlimited® card without losing the rewards you've earned.
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Credit One Bank Wander® Card
The Credit One Bank Wander Card is rewarding for travel purchases, especially when you consider that it's available if you have fair or average credit.
Rewards
- 10X points on eligible hotels and rental cars you book through the Credit One Bank travel partner site
- 5X points on eligible travel, dining and gas purchases
- 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$95
Notable perks
This card has no foreign transaction fees and offers travel accident insurance. Cardholders also enjoy free access to their credit score.
[ Return to card summary ]
FAQs
What does your credit score need to be to get a travel credit card?
The best travel credit cards generally require a good to excellent credit score, which is 670 or higher.
What's the best way to improve my credit score?
Your credit score is based on numerous factors, but the most important things to pay attention to are your debt and payment history. So the best way to increase your credit score is to consistently pay your bills on time and to focus on paying down your debt.
Can I get a Southwest credit card with a 600 credit score?
While there aren't officially published minimum credit score requirements for Southwest credit cards, you'll typically need a good to excellent score to be approved.
Bottom line
You'll generally need good to excellent credit to qualify for top travel credit cards. However, if you are building or rebuilding your credit, you can earn rewards to use for travel at the same time. These cards also have no annual fees and feature other useful perks such as intro APR offers and welcome bonuses.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit cardarticle is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit cardproducts.While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. Seeour methodologyfor more information on how we choose the best travel credit cards for fair credit.
Our methodology
To determine which travel cards are the best value for anyone with fair credit, CNBC Select analyzed the most popular credit cards available to those with no credit or who are rebuilding their credit. We compared each card on a range of features, including the annual fee, rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is to redeem points.
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For rates and fees of the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, clickhere.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
