Navigating the market for credit cards can feel like wading through a sea of plastic. With hundreds of options, it’s easy to drown in an ocean of fine print.
That’s why I’ve curated this list of standout credit card offers for the month. My focus? Cards with limited-time welcome bonuses or unique perks that caught my eye.
March’s selection leans towards travel offers that are ideal for summer vacation savings. You’ll find cards best suited to globetrotters chasing the jet set, and others that are perfect for the folks whose idea of vacation includes a road trip to a lake house for an extended family reunion.
Remember, the best card for you isn’t always the one with the biggest bonus. It’s about finding the right match for your spending habits and financial goals. I’ve broken down the key features of each card to help you spot a diamond in the rough that could level up your spending.
Best travel rewards card offer: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
If you want a card that makes earning travel rewards simple and flexible, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a top contender with its standard offer. With a flat earning rate on every purchase and valuable travel perks, this card is perfect for those who want to maximize their rewards without overthinking it. Capital One has sweetened the pot for a limited time, adding a $250 Capital One Travel credit to its standard 75,000 mile welcome offer.
Capital One Miles has a large selection of transfer partners including Air Canada Aeroplan and Air France/KLM Flying Blue. I’ve successfully redeemed Capital One Miles through both of those programs in the last year. I used 25,000 Aeroplan miles to visit Panama for last spring break, flying in business class, and I just redeemed 55,000 Flying Blue miles for a trip to Porto, Portugal (also in business class) this fall.
That said, Capital One Miles have two downsides:
- Capital One lacks a domestic airline partner, so there’s a learning curve to maximize your miles.
- If you’re looking for travel rewards that also have a competitive cash-redemption option, you’re better off with Chase Ultimate Rewards. That’s because you can get one cent per Ultimate Rewards point in cash value, but only a half cent per mile with Capital One Miles.
Best general travel card offer: The One Key+ Card
One Key is Expedia’s rewards program, allowing you to earn and spend OneKeyCash rewards across their companies: Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo. I’m a fan of the One Key program in general, and the One Key+ Card currently has an enhanced welcome bonus.
Until April 1, 2025, the usual $400 OneKeyCash welcome offer on the One Key+ Card is bumped up to $600 OneKeyCash after spending $3,000 on the card in three months. If you are dead-set against an annual fee, there’s also a $0 annual fee version of the One Key card with a lower earnings rate of 1.5% on everyday purchases vs. the 2% the One Key+ Card offers. Here’s what you need to know about the cards:
The One Key program is great for family travelers as Vrbo rentals earn One Key rewards, a feature Airbnb doesn’t have. If you’re thinking about a summer family beach trip, now’s the time to get that rental sorted. With the average price of a vacation rental around $160/night in April 2025, $600 in OneKeyCash could make a big dent in your vacation budget for just a $99 annual fee.
Best airline card offer: Southwest Plus Card
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card stands out for its low annual fee and solid rewards structure. The current welcome bonus is one of the best offers on the market, offering both a Companion Pass and bonus points. The Companion Pass allows a designated person to fly with you for just the cost of taxes and fees, potentially saving you hundreds or even thousands on travel. There are two other pricier Southwest cards that have the Companion Pass offer as well. Here are the details:
While it may not have all the premium perks of higher-tier Southwest cards, the Plus card still offers valuable benefits like anniversary points and travel protections. These features can easily offset the modest annual fee for even infrequent Southwest flyers. Unlike other airline credit cards, benefits such as free checked bags don’t matter with a Southwest card as all passengers get two free checked bags on Southwest.
One drawback to note is the Plus card’s 3% foreign transaction fee, making it less ideal for international travel. However, for domestic travelers who will fly Southwest even once this year with a companion, this card provides a cost-effective way to earn Rapid Rewards points while your partner flies for free and to enjoy some nice perks without a hefty annual fee.
Best hotel card offer:
My vote for the best hotel credit card offer of March 2025 goes to my favorite hotel card: the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.
This travel credit card is making waves with its latest welcome bonus, offering a hefty 170,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. This eye-catching offer is a significant step up the card’s usual offer of 140,000 points, giving travelers a substantial boost to their IHG Rewards balance right out of the gate.
But the card’s appeal goes beyond just the initial bonus. Take a look at its key features:
The IHG Premier Card packs a punch with perks like an anniversary free night certificate, fourth night free on award stays, and automatic Platinum Elite status. For frequent IHG guests, these benefits can easily outweigh the $99 annual fee. I easily get $500 in value out of this card each year from the Free Night Certificate and the fourth award free benefits alone.
Chris Butsch, credit cards expert and writer, is also a fan of the IHG Premier. “When deciding which of the major hotel brands to “marry”, I ended up with IHG,” he says. “The IHG One Rewards Premier card came with better status than the World of Hyatt card (Platinum vs. Discoverist) and unlike with Marriott, I can earn higher status with points or nights.”
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