Best First Credit Card for Travel Rewards (Starting After 55)
You've never had a travel rewards card. That's not a problem — it's an opportunity. Here's exactly where to start, with none of the jargon and all of the math.
You Haven't Missed the Boat
Let me say something clearly, because you might be thinking it: you are not late to this.
I hear it all the time. "I should have started this years ago." "Everyone else seems to know about points already." "Is it even worth it at this stage?"
Yes. Unequivocally, yes.
Here's the reality: you have two enormous advantages that younger travelers don't. First, you likely have an excellent credit score — built over decades of responsible credit use. That means you'll be approved for the best cards with the best bonuses. Second, you have consistent, meaningful spending. Groceries, dining, utilities, medical expenses, insurance, travel — the life you've built costs real money every month, and every dollar of that spending can earn you points toward your next trip.
The average person over 55 spends $4,000 to $5,000 per month on their credit card. At even a modest 2x earning rate, that's $960 to $1,200 in annual travel value — before you even count the sign-up bonus. In your first year alone, the right card can deliver $1,500 to $2,000 in travel rewards.
You haven't missed anything. You've been building the spending history that makes this work. Now you just need the right card to convert that spending into trips.
A note on honesty: Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means WanderWise earns a small commission if you apply through them. You pay nothing extra — the terms are identical. I will never recommend a card to earn a commission. Every card on this list is one I'd suggest to a family member. If there were a better card we didn't earn on, I'd tell you about it. That's not a policy — it's a promise.
What Makes a Good "First" Travel Card
Not every travel card is a good first travel card. Here's what I looked for:
1. Simple earning structure
Your first card shouldn't require a spreadsheet. You should understand how you earn points within sixty seconds of reading the card's description. Rotating bonus categories, quarterly activations, and earn-rate caps that change by month are fine for enthusiasts. For your first card, they're noise.
2. Straightforward redemption
You should be able to turn your points into travel without transferring them to partner programs, calculating cents-per-point ratios, or reading a 40-page award chart. Those are skills you can learn later — and they're worth learning. But your first experience should be simple: earn points, book travel.
3. A sign-up bonus worth having
The sign-up bonus is the single most valuable thing about your first year with a new card. It's a one-time reward — typically 50,000 to 80,000 points — for spending a certain amount in the first three months. The spending requirement should be achievable with your normal spending. You should never buy things you don't need just to earn a bonus.
4. An annual fee that justifies itself
Some of the best cards charge an annual fee of $95 or more. That's fine — as long as the rewards clearly exceed the cost. But for a first card, I'm also including no-fee options, because the right entry point depends on your comfort level, not on what maximizes points.
5. Customer service you can actually reach
When you have a question — and you will, because the points world has its own vocabulary — you need to be able to call someone. A real person, on the phone, who speaks clearly and answers your question. Not a chatbot. Not a 45-minute hold time. Not a help center article from 2019.
The 4 Best First Travel Cards, Ranked
#1: Capital One Venture Rewards — "The Best First Card for Most People"
WanderWise Pick: Our top recommendation for beginners
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 |
| Sign-up bonus | 75,000 miles (spend $4,000 in 3 months) |
| Earning rate | 2x miles on every purchase — no categories, no tracking |
| Redemption | Use miles as a statement credit against any travel purchase ("Purchase Eraser") |
| Transfer partners | Yes — for when you're ready to learn about them |
| Foreign transaction fees | None |
| Customer service | Very good — U.S.-based phone support |
Why it's the best starting point:
I recommend the Capital One Venture as a first card more than any other, and here's why: it removes every barrier between you and earning travel rewards.
The earning structure could not be simpler. Every purchase earns 2 miles per dollar. Groceries? 2x. Gas? 2x. Dining? 2x. Online shopping? 2x. You never have to think about which card to use or which category a purchase falls under. There is one card. There is one rate. There is no wrong answer.
Redemption is equally straightforward. Capital One's "Purchase Eraser" lets you book travel anywhere — through any website, any airline, any hotel — and then erase the charge from your statement using miles. You don't need to learn about transfer partners or award charts or portals. Just book your trip the way you normally would, then tell Capital One to cover it with miles.
Let me show you what this looks like in practice.
Your first year, step by step
Month 1: You receive the card. You start using it for everything you'd normally buy. Groceries at your regular store. Gas at your regular station. Dinner at your regular restaurant. Nothing changes except which card you hand over.
Month 3: You've spent $4,000 (roughly $1,333 per month — well within normal spending for most households). The 75,000-mile sign-up bonus lands in your account. Combined with the miles you earned on those purchases, you have approximately 83,000 miles.
Month 6: You've accumulated around 91,000 miles. You book a flight and hotel for a trip — maybe a long weekend in Charleston, or a week visiting the grandchildren, or a flight to San Francisco to see the Golden Gate Bridge. Total cost: $850. You pay with your Venture card, then log in and erase the $850 charge using 85,000 miles.
You just took an $850 trip for free. Your out-of-pocket cost was zero. The miles came from spending you were already doing.
Month 12: You've earned roughly 96,000 total miles for the year (including the sign-up bonus). At the base value of 1 cent per mile, that's $960 in free travel. Minus the $95 annual fee, your net gain is $865.
That's the whole thing. That's how it works. No tricks, no optimization, no complicated strategy. Just spend normally, accumulate miles, and turn them into trips.
The growth path
The Venture has transfer partners — airlines like Air Canada, Turkish Airlines, British Airways, and others — that allow you to get even more value from your miles. You don't need to learn about these on day one. But six months from now, when you're comfortable with the card and curious about how to stretch your miles further, the option is there. The card grows with you.
Who should start here: Almost everyone. If you've never had a travel rewards card and want the simplest possible entry point with genuinely good rewards, this is it.
See current Capital One Venture offer →
#2: Chase Sapphire Preferred — "The Best First Card for Ambitious Travelers"
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 |
| Sign-up bonus | 80,000 points (spend $4,000 in 3 months) |
| Earning rate | 3x on dining and online groceries · 2x on travel · 1x on everything else |
| Redemption | Chase Travel portal (1.25¢ per point) or transfer to airline/hotel partners |
| Transfer partners | United, British Airways, Hyatt, Air France, Southwest, and more |
| Foreign transaction fees | None |
| Customer service | Excellent — phone support with knowledgeable agents |
Why it's the "if you're ready for one extra step" choice:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns more than the Capital One Venture in certain categories — 3x on dining versus 2x, for instance. It has a slightly larger sign-up bonus (80,000 versus 75,000). And its transfer partners are widely considered the best in the industry, particularly the ability to transfer to Hyatt for hotel stays.
The trade-off is a small amount of additional complexity. Instead of one flat earning rate, you have three tiers: 3x on dining and online groceries, 2x on travel, and 1x on everything else. This is not complicated — but it does mean you'll want to use this card specifically for dining and travel, and might want a different card (or just this one) for other spending.
Redemption through Chase's travel portal gives you 1.25 cents per point — a 25% bonus over the face value. So those 80,000 sign-up bonus points are worth $1,000 in travel through the portal. That's a meaningful upgrade over Capital One's 1-cent-per-mile redemption.
Your first year with Chase
| Sign-up bonus | 80,000 points = $1,000 through Chase Travel |
| Dining spending ($500/mo × 3x × 12) | 18,000 points = $225 |
| Travel spending ($300/mo × 2x × 12) | 7,200 points = $90 |
| Everything else ($2,200/mo × 1x × 12) | 26,400 points = $330 |
| $50 hotel credit | $50 |
| Total first-year value | $1,695 |
| Annual fee | –$95 |
| Net first-year value | $1,600 |
That's nearly twice the first-year value of many no-fee cards — and the sign-up bonus alone covers the annual fee ten times over.
The Sapphire Preferred also comes with excellent travel insurance: trip cancellation coverage up to $10,000, primary rental car insurance, trip delay reimbursement, and lost luggage protection. For your first trip booked on the card, these protections add genuine peace of mind.
Who should start here: Someone who's comfortable with a small amount of category tracking (dining earns more, travel earns more, everything else earns the base rate) and wants the most valuable sign-up bonus and the best long-term flexibility. If you know you'll want to transfer points to airlines and hotels eventually, starting with Chase gives you the strongest foundation.
See current Chase Sapphire Preferred offer →
#3: Discover it Miles — "The Zero-Risk Starting Point"
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | All miles earned in year one are matched (effectively doubling your earning rate) |
| Earning rate | 1.5x miles on every purchase (effectively 3x in year one with the match) |
| Redemption | Statement credit against travel purchases |
| Transfer partners | None |
| Foreign transaction fees | None |
| Customer service | Excellent — 100% U.S.-based |
Why a free card deserves the #3 spot:
If the idea of paying $95 per year for a credit card feels like a leap — and I understand why it might, when you've carried a no-fee card for years — the Discover it Miles removes that concern entirely.
There is no annual fee. Not in year one, not ever. You cannot lose money on this card. It is financially impossible. That makes it the most comfortable entry point for anyone who wants to try travel rewards before committing to a paid card.
The first-year mile match is genuinely powerful. Every mile you earn in your first twelve months gets doubled at the end of the year. On $3,500 per month in spending, you'd earn:
| Base miles (1.5x × $3,500 × 12) | 63,000 miles |
| First-year match | 63,000 bonus miles |
| Total first-year miles | 126,000 miles = $1,260 in travel |
$1,260 in free travel from a card that costs nothing. That first-year value actually exceeds many cards with annual fees.
Ongoing years are more modest — 63,000 miles at $630 in value — but still meaningful for a no-fee card.
The honest limitations: Discover has no transfer partners, so your miles are purely for statement credits. The earning rate after year one (1.5x) is lower than the Venture's 2x. And Discover isn't accepted at as many international merchants as Visa or Mastercard, though domestic acceptance is excellent.
Think of this card as a stepping stone. Use it for a year, see the rewards accumulate, prove to yourself that the whole system works. Then, when you're ready, apply for the Capital One Venture or Chase Sapphire Preferred — keeping the Discover as a backup card with no ongoing cost.
Who should start here: Anyone who's cautious about annual fees, wants zero financial risk, or simply wants to experience travel rewards before committing to a paid card. Also excellent as a permanent secondary card after you've upgraded.
See current Discover it Miles offer →
#4: Bank of America Premium Rewards — "The Best First Card If You Bank with BofA"
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 |
| Sign-up bonus | 60,000 points (spend $4,000 in 3 months) |
| Earning rate | 2x on travel and dining · 1.5x on everything else (with Preferred Rewards: up to 3.5x and 2.625x) |
| Redemption | Statement credits, gift cards, or travel through the bank's portal |
| Transfer partners | None |
| Foreign transaction fees | None |
| Customer service | Good — access through your existing banking relationship |
Why your banking relationship matters:
This card is on the list for a specific reason: if you already bank with Bank of America, it may be the smartest first card you can get.
Bank of America's Preferred Rewards program boosts your credit card earning rates based on how much you have in combined BofA banking and Merrill Lynch investment accounts:
| Combined balance | Earning boost |
|---|---|
| $20,000–$49,999 | 25% bonus |
| $50,000–$99,999 | 50% bonus |
| $100,000+ | 75% bonus |
With the top tier, the card's base earning rates transform:
| Category | Standard rate | With 75% Preferred Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Travel and dining | 2x | 3.5x |
| Everything else | 1.5x | 2.625x |
That 2.625x rate on "everything else" is extraordinary. Most cards earn 1x on non-bonus spending. With Preferred Rewards, even your utility bills and insurance premiums are earning you substantial points.
Many people our age have had a Bank of America checking account for twenty years. Perhaps your retirement funds are at Merrill Lynch. Perhaps your savings and CDs are at BofA. If you have $100,000 or more across those accounts — which is not uncommon for someone who's spent decades building financial stability — you qualify for the top tier automatically.
A BofA customer's first year
| Amount (with Platinum Honors tier) | |
|---|---|
| Sign-up bonus | 60,000 points = $600 |
| Travel and dining ($1,500/mo × 3.5x × 12) | 63,000 points = $630 |
| Everything else ($2,500/mo × 2.625x × 12) | 78,750 points = $788 |
| $100 airline incidental credit | $100 |
| Global Entry / TSA PreCheck credit | $100 |
| Total first-year value | $2,218 |
| Annual fee | –$95 |
| Net first-year value | $2,123 |
That's a remarkable first-year value — potentially the highest on this list — and it comes from a relationship you've already built.
The honest limitation: Without Preferred Rewards, the card is merely decent. The base earning rates (2x on travel and dining, 1.5x on everything else) are fine but not exceptional, and the lack of transfer partners means your redemption options are limited to statement credits and the bank's travel portal. If you don't bank with BofA, the other cards on this list will serve you better.
Who should start here: Existing Bank of America customers with $50,000 or more in combined banking and investment accounts. If that describes you, this card rewards loyalty you've already demonstrated.
See current BofA Premium Rewards offer →
The First-Timer's Comparison Table
| Capital One Venture | Chase Sapphire Preferred | Discover it Miles | BofA Premium Rewards | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $95 | $0 | $95 |
| Best for | Simplicity | Maximum flexibility | Zero risk | BofA customers |
| Sign-up bonus | 75,000 miles = $750 | 80,000 pts = $1,000 | Year-one match ≈ $630 | 60,000 pts = $600 |
| Earning complexity | ⭐ Simplest | ⭐⭐ Moderate | ⭐ Simplest | ⭐⭐ Moderate |
| Redemption complexity | ⭐ Simplest | ⭐⭐ Moderate | ⭐ Simplest | ⭐ Simple |
| Transfer partners | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (excellent) | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Travel insurance | Good | Excellent | Basic | Good |
| Customer service | Very good | Excellent | Excellent | Good |
| First-year net value | ~$1,615 | ~$1,600 | ~$1,260 | ~$2,123* |
| Ongoing annual value | ~$865 | ~$750 | ~$630 | ~$1,400* |
*BofA values assume Preferred Rewards Platinum Honors tier. Without Preferred Rewards, values drop to approximately $1,200 (year one) and $600 (ongoing).
Your Five Biggest Questions, Answered
"Will applying hurt my credit score?"
Barely, and only temporarily. When you apply, the bank checks your credit — this is called a "hard inquiry," and it typically lowers your score by 3 to 7 points. For someone with a 750 score, you'd drop to perhaps 743 for a few months.
Here's what happens next: your new card increases your total available credit. Since credit scoring models look at how much of your available credit you're using (less is better), having more available credit usually helps your score. Most people see their score fully recover within 60 to 90 days — and many end up higher than where they started.
With 30+ years of credit history, one new account makes almost no difference to your average account age. The math genuinely doesn't care.
"Should I cancel my old card?"
No. Keep it open, especially if it has no annual fee. An older credit card with a long history helps your credit score by keeping your average account age high. You don't have to use it — just leave it open. If it has an annual fee and you're no longer using it, call the issuer and ask to downgrade it to a no-fee card. Same account, same history, no cost.
"What if I don't spend $4,000 in three months?"
Then wait until you have a period of naturally higher spending. Holiday shopping season. A home repair. New appliances. A family event. Medical expenses. Property taxes (if your municipality accepts card payments). The sign-up bonus is valuable, but it's not worth buying things you don't need. If your normal spending is $1,000 per month and the requirement is $4,000 in three months, consider the Discover it Miles instead — it has no minimum spend requirement for its first-year match.
"I already have a cashback card. Is travel rewards actually better?"
In most cases, yes — sometimes dramatically so. A typical cashback card earns 1% to 2% back. The Capital One Venture earns 2x miles on everything, which matches a 2% cashback card — but with a 75,000-mile sign-up bonus worth $750, which no cashback card comes close to matching.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns points worth 1.25 cents each through the portal (effectively 2.5% on dining, 1.25% on general spending) and much more when transferred to partners. When you transfer Chase points to airlines for business class flights, the same points can be worth 4 to 6 cents each — turning a "2% card" into a "4 to 6% card."
Cashback is not bad. Travel rewards are simply better, if you travel.
"What if I don't travel very much?"
Then the Capital One Venture still works beautifully, because its miles can erase any travel purchase — including gas station fill-ups, Uber rides, parking garages, tolls, and even hotel stays for family visits. "Travel" is broader than you might think.
If you genuinely don't travel at all, a cashback card might be more appropriate. But if you take even two or three trips per year — including visits to family, weekend getaways, and the occasional vacation — a travel card delivers significantly more value.
How to Apply: A Calm, Step-by-Step Walkthrough
If you've decided on a card, here's exactly what the application process looks like. No surprises.
Step 1: Gather your information. You'll need your full legal name, home address, Social Security number, date of birth, annual income, and monthly housing cost. Annual income includes everything: pension, Social Security, investment withdrawals, part-time work, rental income. Credit card issuers want to know you can pay the bill, and retirement income absolutely counts.
Step 2: Go to the card's website. Click the "Apply Now" button. The application is one page — typically five to eight fields.
Step 3: Fill out the form. It takes about five minutes. Double-check your information before submitting.
Step 4: Submit and wait. With a credit score above 740, most applicants receive an instant approval decision. You'll see the result on screen within 30 seconds. If you're not instantly approved, don't worry — it may go to a manual review, and you'll receive a decision by mail within 7 to 10 days. This is normal and doesn't mean anything is wrong.
Step 5: Receive your card. It typically arrives in 7 to 10 business days. Some issuers offer expedited shipping if you ask.
Step 6: Set up autopay immediately. This is the most important step. Log into your new card's website or app and set up automatic payment of the full statement balance every month. This ensures you never pay interest. Travel rewards cards have high interest rates — typically 20% or more — and carrying a balance would erase all the value you're earning. Pay in full, every month, automatically. Set it and forget it.
Step 7: Start using the card. Replace your old card as your primary for everyday purchases. Groceries, gas, dining, subscriptions — everything goes on the new card. Your old card stays in your wallet as a backup.
Step 8: Meet the sign-up bonus. Within the first three months, aim to reach the minimum spending threshold through your normal purchases. Once you hit it, the sign-up bonus will appear in your account within one to two billing cycles.
That's it. The entire process, from application to earning your first points, takes less time than a trip to the DMV.
The Bottom Line
You have decades of spending history, an excellent credit score, and consistent monthly expenses. Those are the exact ingredients that make travel rewards work best. The only thing you've been missing is the right card.
If you want the simplest possible start: Capital One Venture. One card, one earning rate, one easy way to turn miles into trips.
If you want the most valuable start: Chase Sapphire Preferred. A larger bonus, excellent travel protections, and a path to transfer partners when you're ready.
If you want zero financial risk: Discover it Miles. No annual fee, no pressure, and a first-year match that makes it surprisingly rewarding.
If you bank with BofA: Bank of America Premium Rewards. Your existing relationship makes this the highest-earning option.
Pick one. Apply today. Set up autopay. Start spending the way you already do.
A year from now, you'll look at your points balance and wonder why you didn't do this sooner. And then you'll book a trip — with points you earned from groceries and gas — and the whole thing will click into place.
Welcome to travel rewards. You're going to be very good at this.
See current Capital One Venture offer →
See current Chase Sapphire Preferred offer →
See current Discover it Miles offer →
See current BofA Premium Rewards offer →
Related Reading
- How to Earn 100,000 Points in 6 Months →
- Understanding Credit Card Categories →
- Credit Card Points vs Airline Miles: What's the Difference? →
- How to Book Award Flights: Step by Step →
Last updated: February 2026. Card terms and bonuses are accurate as of publication. We review and update monthly. Affiliate disclosure: WanderWise earns a commission when you apply through our links. It costs you nothing extra and doesn't influence our recommendations. We recommend what's right for you — and if that means a card we don't earn on, we'll tell you about that one too.