Photo by Engin Akyurt
With summer right around the corner, 59% of Americans say high gas prices are affecting their travel plans, according to a new WalletHub survey. The survey is accompanied by WalletHub’s picks for the Best Credit Cards for Summer Travel in 2026, highlighting deals worth more than $750 in airfare, hotel reservations, and other travel expenses. For those venturing abroad, WalletHub also released its 2026 International Travel Credit Card Study, ranking the top cards for avoiding foreign fees and getting the most out of travel benefits while abroad.
Key Findings:
- Gas Prices Reshape Summer Travel: 59% of Americans say high gas prices are affecting their travel plans.
- Tighter Travel Budgets This Summer: 51% of Americans plan to spend less money this summer than last summer.
- Skipping Bills for Vacation: More than 1 in 5 Americans would skip a credit card payment before skipping a vacation.
- Debt Stress Haunts Vacationers: 48% of people worry about credit card bills while they’re on vacation.
- Debt Won’t Stop the Party: More than 1 in 3 Americans say it’s worth going into debt for a good vacation.
- Summer Travel Starts With a Budget: More than 3 in 5 Americans say they budget for summer travel.
- Best for International Travel: Capital One and Navy Federal Credit Union are the best credit card companies for international travelers in 2026. They’ve topped the list since 2022.
- The Travel Benefits Cards Offer Most: The most common travel benefits on credit cards are emergency assistance (59% of cards), rental car insurance (49%), lost luggage insurance (29%), and accident insurance (23%).
- Best Travel Credit Card: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is the best credit card for summer travel because it offers an initial bonus worth $750 in travel, along with at least double miles on all travel purchases, a reasonable annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
“A summer vacation is the light at the end of the tunnel for a lot of us, helping get us through the dreary winter months. But events out of our control are interrupting our visions of a peaceful beach or lake somewhere, putting summer fun in jeopardy. High gas prices are affecting 59% of people’s travel plans, according to a new WalletHub survey, and most people plan to spend less this summer than last summer. It’s not just a matter of whether we can afford to go away, as many people would rather skip a credit card payment than a vacation. Worrying about affordability while on vacation is a quick way to kill the vibe, too. Fortunately, there are ways to make summer travel a bit more affordable. The right credit card could get you hundreds of dollars in travel rewards, and a good budget can help you cut other spending to save up.”
– John Kiernan, WalletHub Editor