U.S. News & World Report Reveals 2017-18 Best Travel Rewards Programs

Marriott Rewards takes top spot in Best Hotel Rewards Programs; Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan continues reign as No. 1 in Best Airline Rewards Programs

U.S. News & World Report, publisher of Best Hotels, Best Cruise Lines and Best Vacations, today announced the 2017-18 Best Travel Rewards Programs. The annual rankings identify 26 hotel and airline loyalty programs with the most rewarding perks for everyday travelers. Marriott Rewards ranks No. 1 in Best Hotel Rewards Programs, while Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan holds on to the top spot in Best Airline Rewards Programs.

Marriott Rewards is No. 1 among the Best Hotel Rewards Programs due in part to the ease of earning points and its large network of hotels in popular destinations. The program offers complimentary Wi-Fi access and the ability to use points toward booking experiences such as sporting events and concerts. At No. 2, Wyndham Rewards continues to earn high marks for ease of earning a free night, member access to reduced room rates and the availability to earn points through two affiliated credit cards.

Soon to merge with the Virgin America Elevate program, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is the Best Airline Rewards Program for the third consecutive year. Its mileage-based earning structure makes it easier for travelers to earn miles at a faster pace than with revenue-based earning programs. Delta SkyMiles moves up to the No. 2 spot because of its competitive redemption rates for award flights and diversity of benefits, such as using miles for hotels stays, cabin upgrades, experiences and free flights.

"Today's travelers have so many rewards programs to choose from, comparing and contrasting them based on your specific needs can be a challenge," said Christine Smith, associate travel editor at U.S. News. "Our Best Travel Rewards Programs rankings emphasize the ease of earning points and miles, and redeeming them for free nights and flights, which everyday travelers identify as a top reason to join a loyalty program."

U.S. News ranks the Best Travel Rewards Programs in two categories: hotel loyalty programs and airline frequent flyer programs. The methodologies take into account membership benefits – such as free amenities, program-affiliated credit cards and redeemable experiences – network coverage and a strong emphasis on the ease of earning and redeeming free flights or nights. Additionally, U.S. News factors in property diversity for the Best Hotel Rewards Programs and Airline Quality Rating scores for the Best Airline Rewards Programs.

2017-18 U.S. News Best Travel Rewards Programs
Hotel Rewards Programs	Airline Rewards Programs
1. Marriott Rewards	1. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
2. Wyndham Rewards	2. Delta SkyMiles
3. Choice Privileges	3. JetBlue TrueBlue
4. World of Hyatt	4. Southwest Rapid Rewards
5. Best Western Rewards	5. United MileagePlus

For more information on the Best Travel Rewards Programs, visit Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #BestRewards.

About U.S. News & World ReportU.S. News & World Report is a digital news and information company that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. Focusing on Education, Health, Personal Finance, Travel, Cars and News & Opinion, USNews.com provides consumer advice, rankings, news and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 30 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report

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These Are The Best Credit Cards for Travel Rewards

Nicholas J. Reid/ Getty Images

See this year's top picks for frequent fliers and road warriors.

MONEY and NerdWallet have picked the best credit cards in five different categories: cash back, borrowing, travel rewards, student, and small business cards. Most of our picks assume you are using cards strategically to maximize rewards, and paying off your bill each month to avoid fees and finance charges. MONEY also went one step further this year to add an “easy choice”—the best no-muss, no-fuss, no-annual-fee option.

Easy Choice: Barclaycard Arrival World

• APR: 16% to 24%
• Annual fee: $0
• Rewards:
  • Two miles for every $1 spent on travel and dining
  • One mile for every $1 spent on anything else
  • A 5% bonus when redeeming miles for travel spending
• Sign-up bonus: 20,000 miles after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
• Why it’s a winner: Cost-conscious cardholders who are modest spenders but want some travel rewards should look to this card. There’s no annual fee, no foreign-transaction fees, and even a yearlong 0% APR period on balance transfers made within 45 days of opening the card. You’ll earn solid rewards, including double miles for every dollar you spend on travel or at a restaurant; those miles will go even further when you redeem them for travel purchases.
• Caveat: Earning miles on this card is tougher than with some of the other travel winners. If you expect to spend more than $1,000 a month, this card’s cousin—the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite—will be worth the $89 annual fee.

Best for Frequent Fliers (Tie): Chase Sapphire Preferred

• APR: 16% variable
• Annual fee: $0 the first year, then $95
• Sign-up bonus: 40,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months
• Rewards:
  • Two points for every $1 spent on travel and dining
  • One point for every $1 spent on anything else
  • 5,000 points when you add an authorized user who makes a purchase within three months
  • 20% off travel when redeeming points for airfare, hotel stays, car rentals, and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Why it’s a winner: Valuable points and integration with partner programs make Chase Sapphire Preferred the best choice for those who want the most travel flexibility. You have a few options: You can redeem points against charges on your statement—getting 1¢ per mile—or get an extra 20% bonus if you use Chase’s platform to buy travel. Or you can transfer points directly to Sapphire’s travel partners: airlines (such as United and British Airways), hotels (Hyatt, Marriott), or trains (Amtrak). Those programs can be more generous or flexible, letting you use points to pay for upgrades or book business-class tickets.
• Caveat: Chase has upped the amount you must spend in the first three months to earn a sign-up bonus.

Best for Frequent Fliers (Tie): Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite

• APR: 16% to 20%
• Annual fee: $0 the first year, then $89
• Sign-up bonus: 40,000 miles after spending $3,000 in 90 days
• Rewards:
  • Two miles for every $1 spent
  • A 5% bonus when redeeming miles for travel spending
• Why it’s a winner: Like the Sapphire, this card offers top rewards without entangling you in an airline’s loyalty program, but it allows big spenders to rack up miles more quickly. The sign-up bonus itself nets you $420 worth of travel spending, but even after that first year you can recoup the annual fee with about $750 in monthly spending. Other benefits: There are no foreign-transaction fees, and you can get your credit score from TransUnion for free via the Barclaycard website.
• Caveat: This card doesn’t let you transfer miles to airline or hotel programs.

Best for Hotel Aficionados: Starwood Preferred Guest

• APR: 15% to 19%
• Annual fee: $0 the first year, then $95
• Sign-up bonus: 25,000 points after spending $3,000 in 90 days
• Rewards:
  • Up to five points for every $1 spent on Starwood hotels
  • One point per $1 for everything else
• Why it’s a winner: When it comes to hotel rewards, not all points are created equal. Other programs may offer more points per purchase (as does Citi Hilton HHonors card) or a greater sign-up bonus (IHG Rewards Club Select)—but the quants at NerdWallet say a Starwood Preferred Guest point is about five times as valuable as those offered by Hilton and more than three times as great as IHG’s. Why? Because these points go further. Starwood’s are worth about 2.2¢ to 2.4¢ each when they’re redeemed for hotel stays—far in excess of what you’ll get through rival programs. You can also transfer points to about 30 frequent-flier programs; you’ll even get a 5,000-point bonus when you transfer 20,000. And Starwood recently nixed its foreign-transaction fee, making overseas travel less costly.
• Caveat: To reap the card’s benefits, you’ll have to stay in one of Starwood’s 1,200 hotels. But the company’s portfolio includes brands such as Westin, W, and the St. Regis, so it’s hardly a sacrifice.

See all of MONEY’s picks:

• Best Credit Cards for Cash Back
• Best Credit Cards for Carrying a Balance
• Best Credit Cards for Small Business
• Best Credit Cards for Students
• Full coverage: Best Credit Cards 2015-16

Courtesy of Money

This article originally appeared on Money.