The best credit cards for digital nomads and long-term travelers

The right travel credit card is important for any trip as it can earn points or miles and provide valuable travel protections. But what if you travel for months at a time as a digital nomad?

My husband and I have been living on the road as digital nomads for more than six years. We work remotely online while traveling with no permanent home base. So, I’m writing this piece from a prolonged, personal experience.

Although every traveler values credit card benefits differently, this guide considers some of the cards that I believe are the best fit if you’re living the extended travel or digital nomad life.

The best cards for digital nomads and long-term travelers

First, the quick hit list of the best cards for digital nomads and long-term travelers. I’ll get into the details below.

The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Comparison of the best cards for digital nomads and long-term travelers

*After the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually

Now, let’s dive deeper into what each of these cards has to offer. All of the welcome bonus valuations below are based on TPG’s August 2024 valuations.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of TPG’s favorite premium cards, thanks to its benefits and earning rates.

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months from account opening.

Welcome bonus value: $1,230

Rewards:

• 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Travel
• 10 points per dollar on Chase Dining purchases through Ultimate Rewards on prepaid restaurant reservations
• 10 points per dollar on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
• 5 points per dollar on flights booked through Chase Travel
• 3 points per dollar on all other dining and travel purchases
• 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

(Note that the elevated earn rates for travel purchases come into effect after the first $300 in travel purchases made on the card in a calendar year.)

Standout benefits:

• Annual travel credit of up to $300
• Priority Pass Select lounge access
• Points redemption directly through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal at a rate of 1.5 cents apiece or points transfers to 11 airline and three hotel partners
• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years
• Special car rental privileges from National Car Rental, Avis and Silvercar
• Access to The Edit℠ hotel and resort collection
• Complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership for two years (when activated by Dec. 31)
• At least 12 months of complimentary DashPass (when activated by December 31, 2027)
• No foreign transaction fees
• Travel protections, including a primary auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, emergency evacuation and transportation insurance, emergency medical/dental coverage, lost luggage reimbursement, roadside assistance, trip delay reimbursement and trip cancellation/interruption insurance
• Shopping protections, including extended warranty protection, purchase protection and return protection

Annual fee: $550

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is an excellent card for long-term travelers because it earns 3 points per dollar on many travel purchases (after the first $300 spent on travel in a calendar year) and dining purchases.

It’s travel protections are another reason why it’s a great choice for digital nomads. These protections include everything from reimbursements for expenses related to travel delays and delayed baggage to emergency medical and dental benefits.

Although the annual fee is $550, the up-to-$300 annual travel credit, strong earnings on travel and dining purchases and travel protections can provide significant value when you’re on the road all the time.

Plus, Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to hotel and airline partners or redeem them for 1.5 cents apiece through Chase Travel.

To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Platinum Card from American Express

If you can maximize the statement credits and benefits that the Amex Platinum offers, it’s a fantastic card for the long-term traveler.

Welcome bonus: Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.

However, be sure to check the CardMatch Tool to see if you’re targeted for a higher welcome offer — although this offer is subject to change at any time. Not everyone will be targeted for the same offer.

Welcome bonus value: $1,600

Rewards:

• 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1 per dollar) and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
• 1 point per dollar on other purchases

Standout benefits:

*Enrollment required for select benefits. Terms apply to all benefits.

**Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
***Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Annual fee: $695

The Amex Platinum comes with numerous annual statement credits and the most comprehensive lounge benefits of any credit card on the market.

It’s worth noting that you likely won’t be able to maximize every credit. And admittedly, those of us who spend a lot of time outside the U.S. may have trouble using the Uber perk, since it’s a monthly credit that’s only good in the United States.

However, lounge access — especially to Centurion Lounges — and hotel elite status at Marriott and Hilton can be especially valuable to those living on the road.

The primary reason I believe the Amex Platinum is worth it for long-term travelers and digital nomads: the travel protections. However, note that enrollment is required for select benefits, and terms apply.

To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Platinum.

Apply here: The Platinum Card from American Express

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Venture X has one of the lowest annual fees of any premium travel card currently on the market (see rates and fees).

Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

Welcome bonus value: $1,388

Rewards:

• 10 miles per dollar on hotels & rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases

Standout benefits:

• $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
• 10,000 miles anniversary bonus
• Unlimited Capital One lounge access and unlimited access to Priority Pass lounges
• Hertz President’s Circle status**
• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• Auto rental collision damage waiver*
• Extended warranty protection*
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)

*For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

**Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g., at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program, and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

Annual fee: $395 (see rates and fees)

The Capital One Venture X is great for bookings made through Capital One Travel and flat-rate, hassle-free rewards on all other purchases. The card also offers the ability to transfer your miles to 15-plus airline and hotel partners.

The card’s $300 annual Capital One travel credit and 10,000-anniversary miles make for great benefits on a yearly basis. The Venture X stands out with the ability to add a number of authorized users at no cost who also receive access to Capital One and Priority Pass lounges with the ability to bring up to two guests each (see rates and fees).

To learn more, read our full review of the Capital One Venture X.

Apply here: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Citi Strata Premier Card

The Citi Strata Premier often falls under the radar compared to other higher-end travel cards, but any long-term traveler should look into it.

Welcome bonus: Earn 70,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. A higher offer may be available through Citi.com.

Welcome bonus value: $1,260

Rewards:

• 10 ThankYou points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions (excluding air travel) when booking through CitiTravel.com
• 3 points per dollar on air travel, hotels, gas stations, EV charging stations, restaurants and supermarkets
• 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

Standout benefits:

• Extended warranty protection and purchase protection
• Redeem points directly for airfare through CitiTravel.com or transfer points to 20 airline and hotel partners
• Annual $100 statement credit per calendar year for a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) booked through CitiTravel.com or by calling Citi
• Add an authorized user to your account at no additional cost
• No foreign transaction fees

Annual fee: $95

The Citi Strata Premier features a 24-month extended warranty benefit that can be especially useful when living on the road, as nomadic life can take a toll on electronics and other gear. Plus, it carries a fantastic earning rate for a nice blend of everyday and travel-related purchases.

It’s also much cheaper than many of the other cards on this list, so if you’re traveling on a budget it may be the right card for you.

To learn more, read our full review of the Citi Strata Premier.

Apply here: Citi Strata Premier

American Express Green Card

Although it’s often overshadowed by other American Express cards, the Amex Green is a well-rounded card to consider if you’re a digital nomad.

Welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first six months of account opening.

Welcome bonus value: $800

Rewards:

Standout benefits:

• Up to $199 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for your Clear Plus membership with your card*
• Up to $100 in statement credits per calendar year when you use your card to purchase lounge access through LoungeBuddy*
• Transfer points to airline and hotel partners
• Travel protections, including trip delay insurance** when you purchase an eligible round-trip ticket with your card and secondary car rental loss and damage insurance***
• Shopping protections, including purchase protection** and extended warranty**
• No foreign transaction fees

*Enrollment required for select benefits.

**Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
***Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

Annual fee: $150

The Amex Green earns 3 points per dollar on travel, including transit, which can provide great value to frequent travelers. The Amex Green’s annual fee is slightly higher than the Citi Strata Premier, but the Amex Green has annual statement credits that can more than offset the $150 annual fee if you’re able to get significant value from a Clear Plus membership and LoungeBuddy.

Learn more: American Express Green Card

Airline and hotel credit cards

If you frequently fly a particular airline or stay at a particular hotel brand, it may make sense to carry a cobranded credit card from the airline or hotel.

These cards provide many benefits, which can range from free checked bags to extra award availability to bonus-earning to elite status.

Take a look at TPG’s guide to airline credit cards to see if the benefits provided by any cobranded airline credit cards make sense for your travel. Many of the cards provide a free checked bag, which can save you big time when you fly frequently — especially if you tend to purchase basic economy fares.

Even if you only check a bag a few times each year, cards such as the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® and United℠ Explorer Card can pay off.

Check out TPG’s guide to hotel credit cards to see if signing up for a hotel cobranded credit card makes sense for your travel style.

For example, I’ve gotten excellent value from the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card. Since I often stay at IHG hotels, the benefits that come with this card easily make up for the $99 annual fee.

Notable benefits include up to 26 points per dollar earned at IHG properties, an anniversary night at an eligible IHG property worth up to 40,000 points after each account anniversary, automatic Platinum Elite status and a fourth-night reward when redeeming IHG points for stays of three nights or longer.

I also love the benefits that come with Hilton Diamond Elite status from the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, but the card’s $550 annual fee may be difficult to justify if you don’t stay at Hilton properties frequently.

The information for the Hilton Aspire Amex card and Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Are cobranded cards worth it anymore?

Business credit cards

Many long-term travelers and digital nomads have businesses that they’re running from the road. These travelers may find it useful to have one or more business cards as well.

One business card that’s particularly well-suited to long-term travelers and digital nomads is the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.

This card earns 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 in combined purchases spent on travel, shipping, social media and search engine advertising and internet/cable/phone services each account anniversary year, plus 1 point per dollar spent on everything else.

The Ink Business Preferred offers cellphone insurance, primary rental car insurance on business-related rentals and no foreign transaction fees.

Bottom line

If your work position is remote, you may be able to give the digital nomad life a try. If you decide to hit the road, having any of the cards on this list can make your work and travel experience a lot more secure.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.