The vacation season can take a severe toll in your pockets, however with the correct bank card, it may also be probably the most rewarding instances of the 12 months. By selecting a card that aligns together with your spending habits, you’ll be able to flip present purchases and end-of-year bills into beneficial factors, miles and money again.
Whether or not you are buying on-line or in-store, these playing cards stand out for his or her sturdy incomes potential, versatile redemption choices and beneficial perks that make them perfect for vacation spending.
Listed here are our high picks for the most effective bank cards for vacation buying in 2025.
The perfect bank cards for vacation buying
Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card
There’s additionally flexibility in the way you redeem these miles you earn. You should utilize your miles to “pay” your self again for journey booked prior to now 90 days. Or, you’ll be able to switch your miles to 15-plus airline and resort loyalty packages to e book new journey. You may as well redeem miles for present playing cards or assertion credit for eligible purchases.
Be taught extra: Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card evaluate: An important newbie journey card
Chase Freedom Flex
Whether or not you are extra of a standard brick-and-mortar shopper or choose shopping for on-line, you will take pleasure in 5% money again on as much as $1,500 in mixed purchases in eligible bonus classes every quarter you activate with the Chase Freedom Flex. Its classes for bonus money again for This autumn sometimes embrace PayPal — and 2025 is not any completely different.
For the final quarter of 2025, cardholders can activate and earn 5% money again on Outdated Navy, Chase Journey℠ and division retailer purchases. As a bonus birthday class, cardholders may earn 5% money again on PayPal purchases.
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Whereas 5% money again sounds nice, skilled factors and miles hobbyists know that the Chase Freedom Flex isn’t just a cash-back card. When it is paired with a premium Chase card that earns full Final Rewards factors — such because the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card (see charges and costs) or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs) — that money again might be transformed to rather more beneficial Final Rewards factors, which you’ll switch to companions together with United Airways MileagePlus and World of Hyatt.
TPG’s November 2025 valuations peg Final Rewards factors at 2.05 cents apiece, so combining the Freedom Flex (or Chase Freedom Limitless®; see charges and costs) with the Sapphire Reserve and the Ink Enterprise Most well-liked® Credit score Card creates a formidable points-earning machine.
Should you do not have already got this card, Chase Freedom Flex affords new cardholders a $200 cash-back bonus after they spend $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
The knowledge for the Ink Enterprise Most well-liked has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Be taught extra: Chase Freedom Flex card evaluate: Unbelievable incomes with no annual payment
Prime Visa
Should you’re an everyday Amazon shopper, the Prime Visa is the cardboard for you, with no annual payment (although it requires an Amazon Prime membership).
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming, you desire a card that provides you the largest bang to your vacation buying buck. The Prime Visa affords limitless 5% on Amazon, Complete Meals and Chase Journey, 2% on eating places, fuel stations and native transit and commuting and 1% on all different purchases. Moreover, earn 10% or extra on a rotating choice of objects and classes on Amazon.com.
If you do not have the cardboard already, new candidates will immediately get a $150 Amazon present card upon approval, solely for Prime members.
Be taught extra: Prime Visa card evaluate: A good selection for normal Amazon customers
American Specific Gold Card
With out query, the Amex Gold is likely one of the finest playing cards for foodies. The cardboard affords a powerful 4 factors per greenback spent at U.S. supermarkets (as much as $25,000 spent per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback) and eating places worldwide (on as much as $50,000 in purchases per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback).
As well as, cardmembers earn 3 factors per greenback spent on flights booked straight with an airline or via AmexTravel.com, 2 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go motels and different eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com and 1 level per greenback spent on all different eligible purchases.
Whereas the incomes charge for nonbonus purchases yields 1 level per greenback spent, you could need to think about paying with the Amex Gold this vacation season for its sturdy buy safety coverage. Eligible objects are coated for as much as $10,000 in theft, injury, or loss inside the first 90 days of buy.*
That is appreciable, particularly if you happen to purchase big-ticket objects like electronics or furnishings this vacation season.
The Amex Gold additionally comes with an prolonged guarantee, which prolongs a U.S. producer’s guarantee by an extra 12 months on eligible warranties of 5 years or much less.*
You will by no means know when you’ll want to depend on these protections, however they are often fairly beneficial and could also be value sacrificing the bonus factors you’d earn from the opposite playing cards on this record, even after factoring within the $325 annual payment (see charges and costs).
*Eligibility and profit ranges fluctuate by card. Phrases, circumstances, and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
Be taught extra: American Specific Gold Card evaluate: Greatest for foodies
Financial institution of America Premium Rewards bank card
When you’ve got the flexibility to park a major quantity of your investments and financial savings at Financial institution of America or Merrill, the Financial institution of America Premium Rewards bank card is a good possibility for vacation purchases.
Whereas the cardboard comes with affordable (although not earth-shattering) incomes charges of two factors per greenback spent on journey and eating and 1.5 factors per greenback spent on all purchases (which might be redeemed on the charge of 1 cent per level), the true worth of this card comes when you may make it to both the Platinum, Platinum Honors or Diamond award tiers in Financial institution of America’s separate Most well-liked Rewards® banking program. By doing so, the on a regular basis incomes charge on this card can leap all the way in which as much as 2.625 factors for each greenback spent, making it a terrific selection for vacation items.
Associated: 5 causes to get the Financial institution of America Premium Rewards bank card
The Financial institution of America Premium Rewards card at the moment affords a welcome bonus of 60,000 on-line bonus factors after spending at the very least $4,000 on purchases within the first 90 days from account opening. Moreover, the cardboard comes with an as much as $100 assertion credit score towards TSA PreCheck/World Entry and an annual as much as $100 assertion credit score towards airline incidentals — all for an inexpensive $95 annual payment.
Be taught extra: Financial institution of America Premium Rewards bank card evaluate: To not be underestimated
Citi Double Money Card
The ultimate card on our record earns a spot partially for its simplicity. The Citi Double Money Card affords a flat 1% again on each buy plus one other 1% again as you pay your invoice (as much as a 2% whole return).
Whereas this return charge on on a regular basis purchases does not evaluate to the potential returns highlighted above, that is computerized; it leads to chilly, onerous money in your account. For a lot of customers, a no-annual-fee card like this suits the invoice.
Be taught extra: Citi Double Money Card evaluate: Easy rewards and a couple of% money again on all the things
How you can maximize rewards in your vacation buying
Vacation spending can do greater than examine items off your record — it could actually additionally make it easier to attain huge bank card targets. Should you’ve just lately opened a brand new card, think about placing your vacation purchases towards the minimal spending requirement to earn a beneficial welcome bonus. Simply be sure you finances responsibly and repay your stability in full.
Associated: The perfect bank card welcome bonuses of November 2025
If you have already got a number of playing cards, examine whether or not any provide calendar-year spending bonuses or perks that reset quickly. Concentrating your purchases on one card may make it easier to unlock assertion credit, free nights, or elite standing earlier than the 12 months ends.
One other straightforward method to earn additional rewards is thru on-line buying portals. These portals allow you to earn extra factors, miles or money again simply by clicking via before you purchase (no particular bank card required).
To seek out the most effective provide, use CashBack Monitor, which compares incomes charges throughout dozens of portals for a similar retailer. You may as well set up your most popular portal’s browser extension, so you will by no means miss out on bonus rewards throughout checkout.
Backside line
The vacation season does not have to empty your pockets, and with the correct bank card technique, your spending can really pay you again. Concentrate on playing cards that match your buying habits, whether or not which means flat-rate money again, bonus rewards on common retailers or versatile journey factors you’ll be able to redeem later.
Pair your card with on-line buying portals and seasonal class bonuses to earn much more rewards on each buy. And if you happen to’re opening a brand new card, use your vacation spending to hit minimal spend necessities and unlock beneficial welcome affords.
With a bit planning, your vacation buying can flip right into a rewards windfall, from additional factors and money again to future flights, resort stays or assertion credit, making this season each festive and rewarding.
Be taught extra: Capital One Enterprise Rewards
Apply right here: Chase Freedom Flex
Apply right here: Prime Visa
Apply right here: American Specific Gold
Apply right here: Financial institution of America Premium Rewards Card
Apply right here: Citi Double Money Card
For charges and costs of Amex Gold, click on right here.
