Empowering Families to Explore More for Less
Best First Credit Cards
As you build your family’s travel adventures — whether for a beach getaway with the kids or a luxurious hotel stay you redeem with points — choosing the right credit card welcome bonus is a powerful first step. Below you'll find the best six first cards, from beginner-friendly picks to premium travel cards.
I might earn a small commission or referral bonus points if you apply through my links at no extra cost to you.
(Don’t worry — I only recommend cards I believe are strong value for families and travel-hackers like us.)
How to Choose a Card (Quick Guide)
Before diving in, here are three smart filters to help you pick the right card:
Your travel goals – Are you earning miles to transfer into hotels/airlines? Or looking for cash-back rebates you can apply toward your next family vacation?
Your points flexibility – Choose cards that earn transferable points (like Chase, Capital One, Amex) so you can move your points to multiple airline and hotel partners. This gives you way more options and often the best value per point.
Your points strategy – If you hold cards within a brand family (e.g., one bank issuer), make sure you understand the 5/24 Rule and eligibility rules (welcome-bonus limits, churn rules, etc.).
Beginner Cards
These are great if you’re new to travel-hacking and want to start earning meaningful welcome bonuses without much worry.
Welcome Offer:
Highlights:
Earn 5x points when you book travel through Chase Travel℠
Get 3x points on dining, select streaming platforms, and online grocery purchases
Receive 2x points on other travel expenses outside the Chase portal
Earn 1x point on all other everyday purchases
Enjoy up to $50 in annual statement credits each account anniversary year when you book a hotel stay through Chase Travel℠
Transferable points to top travel partners (hotels & airlines)
Travel protections and no foreign transaction fee
Annual Fee:
$95 (see terms)
Earn 75,000 bonus points
Why I Love It:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is hands-down my favorite everyday spending card. I love earning flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards® points on everything because I can transfer them directly to my favorite travel partners — Hyatt for amazing hotel stays, Southwest for family trips, and United / Flying Blue for international travel.
For families who want simple, powerful rewards that turn into real travel, this card is the perfect balance of value, flexibility, and ease. It’s a must-have in any beginner or seasoned travel-hacker setup — and the card I personally reach for the most.
Welcome Offer:
Highlights:
Earn 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
Redeem miles to erase almost any travel purchase (75,000 miles = $750 in travel value)
Transfer miles to a wide range of partners, including Flying Blue, Wyndham, Avianca, Turkish Airlines, and more
Receive 10,000 bonus miles each anniversary year (worth at least $100 toward travel)
Enjoy a $300 annual travel credit when you book through Capital One Travel
Annual Fee:
$395
Earn 100,000 bonus points
My Take:
Don’t let the $395 annual fee intimidate you — this card more than pays for itself. Between the $300 travel credit and the 10,000 bonus miles you get every anniversary, the value you get each year is incredible.
One thing I love about the Venture X is how easy it is to use. You always earn 2x miles on every single purchase, so when we’re not actively working on a new welcome bonus or maximizing spending categories, this is our go-to everyday card. I always tell my husband, “If you’re not sure which card to use, just grab the Venture X!”
The perks aren’t just on paper either. You get Priority Pass access and entry to Capital One Lounges, which makes airport time so much more enjoyable — especially when traveling with kids.
Overall, the Venture X is one of those rare premium cards that’s simple to use, packed with value, and easy to keep long-term.
Welcome Offer:
Highlights:
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 each year in combined spending at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services
Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 each year in combined spending at gas stations and restaurants
Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
$0 annual fee, making it easy to keep long term
Cash back can be combined with other Chase cards and turned into transferable Ultimate Rewards® points
Great option for small businesses, side hustles, and online businesses
Annual Fee:
$0
$750 cash back*
Why I Love It:
*This card is advertised as a cash-back card, HOWEVER what I love most is that it can actually be used as a points-earning powerhouse when paired with the right Chase cards. By combining rewards with a Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Ink Business Preferred®, that cash back can be turned into transferable Ultimate Rewards® points.
I also love using this card at Staples — especially when Visa gift cards go on sale. I’ll buy gift cards and then use them to pay bills or shop on Amazon, earning elevated rewards on spending we already have. It’s one of the smartest ways I’ve found to stretch everyday business expenses and build points faster.
Welcome Offer:
Highlights:
Earn 2x Rapid Rewards® points on Southwest® purchases
Earn 2x points at gas stations and grocery stores (on qualifying purchases, up to the annual cap)
Earn 1x point on all other purchases
Receive 3,000 bonus points each year on your cardmember anniversary
Redeem points for flights with no blackout dates
Enjoy Bags Fly Free® with Southwest (two checked bags per passenger)
Points earned count toward qualifying for the Southwest Companion Pass
Annual Fee:
$99
Earn 85,000 bonus points
Why I Love It:
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is one of the simplest ways to start earning points toward free flights while also working your way toward the highly valuable Southwest Companion Pass — a benefit that lets one person fly with you for nearly free.
If the Companion Pass is your goal, this card can be a great first step or an excellent pairing with a Southwest business card to help you reach the required points faster.
Timing Matters
When it comes to the Southwest Companion Pass, timing is everything. You want to earn it in a way that gives you close to two full years of use, not just one. Applying at the right time makes a huge difference.
👉 For a full breakdown on how to time it correctly, see my Southwest Companion Pass page.
If the timing isn’t right for a Southwest card, that’s okay. You can always focus on another airline card — like United, American Airlines, or another flexible option — and circle back to Southwest when the timing makes sense.
Welcome Offer:
Highlights:
Earn 1.5x cash back on every purchase with no category limits
$0 annual fee, making it easy to keep long term
*Cash back can be combined with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Ink Business Preferred® and turned into transferable Ultimate Rewards® points
Great option for everyday spending
Annual Fee:
$0
$750 cash back*
Why I Love It:
I love earning a flat 1.5x on every purchase, which means there’s no second-guessing categories. When we’re not working toward a welcome bonus, this is one of the cards we use most.
Depending on our travel goals for the year — whether we’re focused on earning points to transfer to Hyatt or United — we’ll rotate between this card and the Venture X to make sure our everyday spending aligns with the trips we’re planning.
Welcome Offer:
Highlights:
Earn up to 60,000 World of Hyatt® points with a welcome offer (offer varies and is subject to change)
Earn 4x points at Hyatt hotels and resorts
Earn 2x points on dining, airline tickets purchased directly with airlines, local transit, and fitness club memberships
Earn 1x point on all other purchases
Receive one free night award every year after your cardmember anniversary (valid at Category 1–4 Hyatt hotels)
Earn an additional free night after spending $15,000 in a calendar year
Automatic Discoverist status, with the ability to earn higher Hyatt elite status faster
No blackout dates when redeeming points for Hyatt stays
Annual Fee:
$95
60,000
Why I Love It:
The World of Hyatt Credit Card is one of the easiest wins for family travel. The $95 annual fee feels like a coupon for a high-end hotel night, making it more than worth keeping year after year.
Hyatt points stretch incredibly far, especially for family-friendly hotels and resorts where comfort and location really matter. If you have—or are working toward—Hyatt Globalist status, this card becomes even more powerful for families thanks to perks like free breakfast, room upgrades, and late checkout.
For us, Hyatt stays consistently deliver better value, better service, and better experiences, which is exactly what I want when traveling with kids.
Final Thoughts
When choosing your first credit cards, focus on where you want to travel first—then build your strategy one card at a time. There’s no rush. Spacing applications about every 90 days helps keep things simple and stress-free, especially if you’re just getting started.
If you have a Player 2 (or even Player 3) in your family, take advantage of referrals. Referring each other is one of the easiest ways to double or even triple your points while earning welcome bonuses faster—without extra spending.
If you found this guide helpful, I’d truly appreciate you using my referral links when applying. It supports my family’s travel adventures at no extra cost to you, and helps me continue creating free, helpful content to make travel more accessible for families like yours ✈️💙