Travel cards are marketed on their flashiest perks, but the right card for you depends on where your money actually goes. Before comparing sign-up offers, look at a few months of real travel spend and see where the volume sits.
If flights dominate, a card tied to your most-used airline or a flexible points program will return the most. If your spend is spread across meals, transport, and incidentals, a flat-rate travel card often beats a co-branded one. The best card is the one whose bonus categories overlap your everyday charges.
Watch the annual fee against the credits you will genuinely use. A high fee is worth it only if the lounge access, travel credits, and protections match your habits. If they sit unused, a simpler card wins.