As Americans gear up for a winter travel season shaped by rising costs, and with the busiest travel dates just around the corner, WalletHub today announced the results of its 2026 Winter Travel Survey, along with its updated list of the Best Credit Cards for Winter Travel. Applying for the right card now will give people enough time to earn $1,000+ in free travel this winter.
Key Findings
- Inflation Threatens Winter Trips: Nearly half of Americans think inflation will ruin their winter travel plans.
- Expensive Souvenir: 30% of Americans are still carrying debt from traveling last winter.
- Borrowing for Getaways: Nearly 1 in 3 people think winter travel is worth going into debt for.
- New Cards Fueling Travel: More than 1 in 3 people plan to apply for a new credit card to save on travel this winter.
- The Financial Toll: More than 1 in 4 Americans say winter travel is very stressful financially.
- Underrated Travel Planning Tool: 35% of people say they’re going to use a budgeting app to plan for their next vacation.
- 2026’s Best Travel Credit Card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is the best credit card for winter travel because it offers initial bonuses worth more than $1,000 in travel, at least double miles on every purchase, flexible redemption and no foreign transaction fees.
“Consumers are psyching themselves up for a rocky winter travel season, with nearly half of Americans expecting inflation to ruin their plans and more than one-quarter saying that winter travel is very stressful financially, according to a new WalletHub survey. But all is not lost simply because the financial forecast is a bit cloudy. The 35% of people who say they’re going to use a budgeting app to plan their next vacation have the right idea, as do those who plan to apply for a new rewards card to get a big travel bonus.
The best travel credit cards can save you $1,000+ on your next vacation, which could be the difference in making the trip affordable. Just make sure to pay the bill in full by the due date so that a nice trip doesn’t turn into an ugly experience with debt. Even though nearly 1 in 3 people think winter travel is worth going into debt for, that is a very bad idea.”
- John Kiernan, WalletHub Editor
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