Top-Tier Credit Card Rewards for Experience Bookings [2025 Edition]
In the world of credit cards, there are numerous options for earning rewards that can be used to enhance your travel experiences. Here's a breakdown of some popular credit card rewards programs and how you can redeem them for unforgettable journeys.
Cash-Back Cards
Credit cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited, Citi Custom Cash Card, and Citi Double Cash Card allow you to accumulate cash in your account to pay for future experiences. As you spend, you'll earn cash-back, which can be used to cover the cost of flights, hotels, or other travel-related expenses.
Credit Card Rewards Programs for Experiences
American Express Membership Rewards
American Express Membership Rewards points cannot be redeemed directly for experiences, but they can be transferred to airline transfer partners and used for vacation packages or add-on experiences. To book destination experiences with American Express Membership Rewards points, you primarily use the Amex Travel portal. You can redeem points on select flights, prepaid hotels, and custom vacations booked through American Express Travel, including special Platinum Destinations® Vacations, which allow Platinum Card Members to earn extra points when booking custom trips.
Capital One Miles
Capital One Miles can be transferred to airline or hotel partners and redeemed via the associated loyalty programs or used for a statement credit against travel purchases from the previous 90 days. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card offers a limited time offer of a $100 credit to use towards flights, stays, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel during the first cardholder year, plus 20,000 bonus miles when you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Citi ThankYou Rewards
Citi ThankYou Rewards points can be transferred to airline or hotel partners and redeemed for 1 cent each for experiences or transferred to the Citi Strata Premier card to then transfer to airline or hotel partners. To redeem Citi ThankYou Points for experiences, log in to your online Citi card account and select the option to redeem ThankYou Points, then select the Travel category, select Activity, type in your destination and the dates you will be there, and select your preference from the list provided, and apply points or cash to the purchase.
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be redeemed for 1 cent per point via the Chase Travel portal or transferred to travel partners to book via airline or hotel loyalty programs. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card are some of the recommended cards for these rewards programs.
Bonus Offers
Several credit cards offer attractive bonus offers for new account holders. For example, the Citi Double Cash Card offers a bonus of $200 cash-back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. The Citi Strata PremierSM Card offers a bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a bonus of 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
In addition, the Citi Strata EliteSM Card offers a bonus of 80,000 points after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months of account opening. The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card, and Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card all earn Delta SkyMiles, and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a bonus of 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
Additional Options
As you're accumulating cash-back in your account, you can also purchase gift cards using your credit card for future travel experiences such as Universal Studios and more. You can then use your cash-back for statement credits to pay off the purchase. Alternatively, you can use miles and points to book destination experiences, such as tours, day trips, transportation, and entertainment.
In summary, the easiest way to book and redeem points for destination experiences is via the Amex Travel portal, especially for flights, hotels, and custom vacation packages designed for Platinum Card Members. Flight upgrades and transfers to partners provide additional options but may have practical limitations. For cash-back cards, you can use the accumulated cash to pay for future experiences. Each program offers unique benefits, so it's essential to choose the one that best suits your travel style and preferences.
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