Raising a family can be expensive! Groceries, healthcare, gas, activities,  clothes, etc., etc.! You might as well be rewarded for what you have to pay for anyway! That’s where those credit card welcome offers come in handy. We love to earn points on those big welcome offers, so we don’t have to pay a lot for family travel – which is also expensive. Let’s talk about the best credit cards for family travel!

 

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card

If you’ve followed us for any time at all, it is no surprise to learn that the Chase Sapphire Preferred is our favorite credit card.  One of the reasons is that it is so versatile. Want airline miles?  You can get them. Want hotel stays? They are yours too. Transferable points are the best type of points to go after simply because they are so versatile. You don’t have to know what you want to do with them yet, and they will meet almost everyone’s needs. Chase also has some of our favorite transfer partners, like Hyatt, United, and Southwest.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred gives you a ton of options when it comes to family travel. Seriously, if you haven’t grabbed it yet, consider it. Refer a spouse to it, get a referral bonus, and double your welcome offer, too, for even more points.

 

 

Capital One Venture Card

Another one of the best credit cards for family travel is the Capital One Venture Card. Not only are there some great transfer partners with Capital One, but you can also use the points to “erase” expenses like Disneyland tickets (when booked with a travel agency), or on car rentals, and Airbnb stays.

It is also a great everyday spending card because it earns 2x points per dollar spent on everything, so if you don’t want to think about which card to use for the best redemption, use this card!

 

 

Capital One Venture X

What we like even more than the Venture card is the  Capital One Venture X! If you are a family that travels often, this could be a great card for you. This is a premium card, but for a premium card, it has a lower annual fee than a lot of its competitors while still offering amazing benefits. The Venture X has an annual fee of $395, but you get a $300 travel credit to use in Capital One’s travel portal each year. It also has airport lounge access for the primary cardholder and two guests. What’s even better is you can add authorized users to the card for no fee, and the authorized user will be able to bring in two guests to the airport lounges as well! Tip: Add one of your kid’s as an authorized user, so it doesn’t take up a 5/24 slot for your spouse/partner. Those are just a couple of the great benefits that come with this card.

 

Southwest Airline Credit Cards

The Southwest Airlines credit cards make family travel so much more affordable.  Alex jokes that her boys don’t know what another airline is because that is all they travel as a family! As a family with kids 6 and under, you can board after the A group and get free checked bags. Earlier this year, they paid only $55 for their whole family to go to Maui! She is proof that it is the perfect airline card to have for families! If you can get the Southwest Companion Pass as Alex has, it is even better!

Be sure to apply when they offer limited-time bonuses for the personal card, though. You don’t want to apply when the offer is the usual 40,000 points. About two times a year, Southwest (and other credit card issuers) raise their welcome offers. Contact us if you are unsure if the current offer is a high one.

 

 

Chase IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card

The Chase IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card is also one of the best credit cards for family travel and often gets overlooked. The welcome offer is usually quite high, and you can use it for some great family stays with suites and free breakfasts. I particularly like the Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites, which come with kitchens, so you can save on food costs. Another nice option with IHG is the Holiday Inn Vacation Clubs.

 

World of Hyatt Credit Card

The World of Hyatt Credit Card is another one we love for family travel. We particularly like it for family travel at Hyatt Places. You can usually book one for 5,000-12,000 points. They are modern, have kitchens and free breakfasts, and are the perfect family place to stay. Alex booked a great one for her son’s birthday, and they had a fun staycation. Hyatt House is another great hotel option for family travel, and those are usually a good price as well.

 

 

Bottom Line

With a family, there are a ton of expenses! We like to put everything on a credit card and get points and miles. You might as well get rewarded for all those things we “have to” pay for anyway! Which credit card will you be applying for next?