One of the best bank cards for leisure spending

Metro Loud
23 Min Read


Leisure spending normally makes up a big portion of an individual’s funds. Regardless of this being a traditionally frequent spending class, few playing cards explicitly provide bonus rewards for leisure spending.

That is in all probability as a result of class’s ambiguity — in spite of everything, leisure can embody live shows, streaming subscriptions and past. When you’re at present seeking to maximize this ambiguous class, think about one of many following playing cards.

One of the best bank cards to maximise your leisure spending

Card Welcome bonus  Leisure rewards fee Annual charge
Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. 5 miles per greenback spent on purchases made by means of the Capital One Leisure platform (a 9.25% return, per TPG’s August 2025 valuations) $395
Capital One Enterprise X Enterprise Earn 150,000 bonus miles after spending $30,000 within the first three months from account opening.

 

5 miles per greenback spent on purchases made by means of the Capital One Leisure platform (a 9.25% return) $395
Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening. 5 miles per greenback spent on purchases made by means of the Capital One Leisure platform (a 9.25% return) $95
Capital One Spark Miles for Enterprise Earn 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 on purchases inside the first three months of account opening. 5 miles per greenback spent on purchases made by means of the Capital One Leisure platform (a 9.25% return) $0 first yr, then $95
Capital One Savor Money Rewards Credit score Card Earn a one-time $200 money bonus after spending $500 in purchases inside the first three months of account opening. Plus, take pleasure in a $100 Capital One Journey credit score to make use of within the first cardholder yr. 3% money again (or 8% if bought by means of Capital One Leisure) $0
Citi Customized Money® Card* Earn $200 money again after spending $1,500 on purchases within the first six months of account opening 5% money again every billing cycle on the primary $500 of purchases within the class of your selecting, together with reside leisure $0
Citi Strata℠ Card (see charges and costs) Earn 30,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 within the first three months. 3 factors per greenback spent in a self-select class, which incorporates reside leisure $0
U.S. Financial institution Money+ Visa Signature Card*

 

Earn a $200 rewards bonus after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days. 5% money again in your first $2,000 in mixed eligible purchases every quarter on two classes you select $0

*The data for the Citi Customized Money and the U.S. Financial institution Money+ Visa Signature Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Notice that Capital One solely lets you carry two private Capital One branded playing cards at a time and tends to limit you to at least one new card each six months, together with each enterprise and private playing cards.

When you’re fascinated with a Capital One card on your leisure purchases, hold Capital One’s restrictions in thoughts as you propose an software technique.

Which purchases code as leisure?

Leisure spending can theoretically embody a whole lot of various things. And plenty of stuff you’d assume would fall underneath that umbrella find yourself coding otherwise on a bank card assertion.

Associated: use the Amex Platinum leisure credit score

Amusement parks, ski passes and dinner reveals are all bills that would simply be coded as journey or eating relying on the cardboard, the particular service provider and the place you make the acquisition.

THOMAS BARWICK/GETTY IMAGES

You will get extra area of interest inside the leisure class, specifying which playing cards could also be greatest for issues like streaming companies, Amazon purchases, music festivals and sporting occasions.

Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day e-newsletter

Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants

What’s Capital One Leisure?

Capital One Leisure is Capital One’s ticketing platform, providing entry to music, sports activities and eating occasions.

The Capital One playing cards talked about on this information provide priceless earnings charges on ticket purchases by means of Capital One Leisure. When you’re seeking to maximize leisure earnings, make the most of one among these playing cards.

Capital One Enterprise X

Annual charge: $395.

Welcome provide: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. This provide is price $1,388 primarily based on TPG’s August 2025 valuations.

Venture X card art
THE POINTS GUY

Incomes charges:

  • 10 miles per greenback spent on lodges and rental vehicles booked by means of the Capital One Journey portal
  • 5 miles per greenback spent on purchases made by means of the Capital One Leisure platform
  • 5 miles per greenback spent on flights and trip leases booked by means of the Capital One journey portal
  • 2 miles per greenback spent on all different purchases

How leisure is outlined: With this card, leisure purchases are merely outlined as purchases made by means of the Capital One Leisure platform.

Why we prefer it: The Enterprise X presents premium perks like lounge entry, and annual $300 journey credit score, anniversary bonus miles and journey protections. The factors earned on this card might be transferred to Capital One’s 15-plus switch companions. The cardboard virtually pays for itself yr after yr.

Try our full Enterprise X card evaluation for extra particulars.


Study extra: Capital One Enterprise X


Associated: Who ought to (and should not) get the Capital One Enterprise X card?

Capital One Enterprise X Enterprise

Annual charge: $395.

Welcome provide: Earn 150,000 bonus miles after spending $30,000 within the first three months from account opening. This provide is price $2,778 primarily based on TPG’s August 2025 valuations.

a hand holds a credit card
THE POINTS GUY

Earnings fee:

  • 10 miles per greenback spent on lodges and rental vehicles booked by means of the Capital One Journey portal
  • 5 miles per greenback spent on purchases made by means of the Capital One Leisure platform
  • 5 miles per greenback spent on flights and trip leases booked by means of the Capital One journey portal
  • 2 miles per greenback spent on all different purchases

How leisure is outlined: With this card, leisure purchases are merely outlined as purchases made by means of the Capital One Leisure platform.

Why we prefer it: Like its private counterpart the Enterprise X, the Enterprise X Enterprise shares lots of the similar perks. For small-business house owners who spend lots on reside leisure, this could possibly be a stable possibility.

Try the Enterprise X Enterprise card evaluation for extra particulars.


Study extra: Capital One Enterprise X Enterprise


Associated: Is the Enterprise X Enterprise well worth the $395 annual charge?

Capital One Enterprise Rewards

Annual charge: $95.

Welcome provide: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening. This provide is price $1,388 primarily based on TPG’s August 2025 valuations.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card_UPDATE 2024
THE POINTS GUY

Earnings fee:

  • 5 miles per greenback spent on lodges, rental vehicles and trip leases booked by means of the Capital One Journey portal
  • 5 miles per greenback spent on purchases made by means of the Capital One Leisure platform
  • 2 miles per greenback spent on all the things else

How leisure is outlined: With this card, leisure purchases are merely outlined as purchases made by means of the Capital One Leisure platform.

Why we prefer it: The Enterprise Rewards has a modest annual charge, and you will earn not less than 2 miles per greenback spent on each buy. This makes it a terrific possibility for not solely your leisure spending but additionally all of your every day purchases.

Try the Enterprise Rewards card evaluation for extra particulars.


Study extra: Capital One Enterprise Rewards


Associated: Is the Capital One Enterprise Rewards card price it?

Capital One Spark Miles for Enterprise

Annual charge: $0 introductory annual charge within the first yr; $95 thereafter.

Welcome provide: Earn 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 on purchases inside the first three months of account opening. This provide is price $925 primarily based on TPG’s August 2025 valuations.

a hand holds a credit card
THE POINTS GUY

Incomes charges:

  • 5 miles per greenback spent on lodges, rental vehicles and trip leases booked by means of the Capital One Journey portal
  • 5 miles per greenback spent on purchases made by means of the Capital One Leisure platform
  • 2 miles per greenback spent on all the things else

How leisure is outlined: With this card, leisure purchases are merely outlined as purchases made by means of the Capital One Leisure platform.

Why we prefer it: Enterprise house owners preferring simplicity will just like the Spark Miles, which earns not less than 2 miles per greenback spent. This makes it a terrific card for on a regular basis purchases and your leisure spending.

Try the Spark Miles for Enterprise card evaluation for extra particulars.


Study extra: Spark Miles for Enterprise


Associated: Capital One Spark Money Plus vs. Spark Miles for Enterprise: Which is best for your online business?

Capital One Savor Money Rewards

Annual charge: $0.

Welcome provide: Earn a one-time $200 money bonus after spending $500 in purchases inside the first three months of account opening. Plus, take pleasure in a $100 Capital One Journey credit score to make use of within the first cardholder yr.

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards card art
THE POINTS GUY

Incomes charges:

  • 8% money again on Capital One Leisure purchases
  • 3% on eating, leisure, widespread streaming companies and at grocery shops (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Goal®),
  • 1% on all different purchases.

How leisure is outlined: Capital One defines leisure the identical throughout Savor playing cards, that means you may get bonus rewards on tickets to film theaters, performs, live shows, sporting occasions, vacationer points of interest, theme parks, aquariums, zoos, dance golf equipment, bowling alleys, pool halls, report shops and video rental areas.

Why we prefer it: With the Capital One Savor, anybody spending a good portion of their funds on eating and leisure will get nice worth from that card. When you e-book your leisure purchases by means of Capital One’s portal, you may get one of many highest returns in the marketplace. Plus, when you pair this card with a Enterprise card, you’ve got bought your self a pleasant card duo.

Try the Capital One Savor card evaluation for extra particulars.


Study extra: Capital One Savor Money Rewards


Associated: Why the Capital One Enterprise X and the Savor Money make a dynamic duo

Citi Customized Money

Annual charge: $0.

Welcome provide: Earn $200 money again after spending $1,500 on purchases within the first six months of account opening.

Citi Custom Cash card art
THE POINTS GUY

Incomes charges:

  • 5% money again every billing cycle on the primary $500 of purchases in your high spending class from the next checklist: Drugstores, health golf equipment, fuel stations, grocery shops, dwelling enchancment shops, reside leisure, eating places, choose transit, choose journey and choose streaming
  • 1% money again on all different purchases

How leisure is outlined: Citi defines reside leisure as “ticket purchases for reside leisure, together with: live shows, reside sporting occasions, reside theatrical productions, amusement parks, and orchestras. Excludes: charitable organizations that present reside leisure (advantages), sporting camps, sports activities complexes the place you take part within the sport, private and non-private golf programs, nation golf equipment (together with membership charges), bowling alleys, film theaters, vacationer points of interest, museums and artwork galleries.”

Why we prefer it: For no annual charge, you may earn 5% money again on the primary $500 spent on reside leisure every billing cycle. Plus, the cardboard mechanically selects your 5% bonus class in case your spending habits change.

Try the Citi Customized Money evaluation for extra particulars.


Citi Strata Card

Annual charge: $0.

Welcome provide: Earn 30,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 within the first three months. This provide is price $570 primarily based on TPG’s August 2025 valuations.

Citi Strata Card card art
THE POINTS GUY

Incomes charges:

  • 5 factors per greenback spent on lodges, automobile leases and points of interest booked by means of the Citi journey portal
  • 3 factors per greenback spent at supermarkets and on choose transit, EV charging and fuel purchases
  • 3 factors per greenback spent on an eligible self-select class (these embody: health Golf equipment, choose streaming companies, reside leisure, beauty Shops, barber outlets and hair salons and pet provide shops) (which you’ll change every quarter)
  • 2 factors per greenback spent at eating places
  • 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases

Why we prefer it: This card presents an attention-grabbing proposition as a result of it has no annual charge and no spending cap on how a lot you’ll be able to earn within the self-select class every quarter. Plus, there are a number of bonus-earning classes. The one draw back is that the factors earned cannot be transferred to all of Citi’s switch companions.

Try the Citi Strata card evaluation for extra particulars.


Apply right here: Citi Strata Card


Associated: When (and why) you need to downgrade from the Citi Strata Premier to the Citi Strata Card

U.S. Financial institution Money+™ Visa Signature® Card

Annual charge: $0.

Welcome bonus: Earn a $200 rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases inside the first 90 days of account opening.

a hand holds a credit card
THE POINTS GUY

Welcome bonus: Earn a $200 rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases inside the first 90 days of account opening.

Rewards:

  • Earn 5% money again by deciding on from two of 12 service provider classes every quarter in your first $2,000 mixed purchases
  • 2% on one on a regular basis class, like fuel stations and EV charging, grocery shops or eating places
  • 1% in every single place else.

How leisure is outlined: U.S. Financial institution presents two entertainment-related classes that earn 5% money again: film theaters and TV, web and streaming companies. This contains widespread companies equivalent to Netflix, Hulu and Max. You may go for each leisure classes each quarter to maximise money again.

Why we prefer it: This card presents compelling money again incomes charges for a card with out an annual charge. Moreover, it is good you’ll be able to choose two 5% again classes when you do not spend $2,000 yearly on leisure. Simply remember, you need to choose in every quarter and choose your most popular bonus classes to earn the upper rewards charges.

Try the U.S. Financial institution Money+ Visa Signature card evaluation for extra particulars.


Take into account a flat-rate card

An alternative choice for leisure spending is a fixed-rate card. There are loads in the marketplace, starting from playing cards that earn money again and journey rewards to these catering to small-business house owners.

Enterprise vacationers can check out the Capital One Spark Miles for Enterprise, incomes 2 miles per greenback spent throughout each buy with a $95 annual charge, (dropped within the first cardholder yr).

Or if money again is extra your model, a card just like the Citi Double Money® Card (see charges and costs) or Chase Freedom Limitless® (see charges and costs) can also be a viable possibility.

Woman paying for coffee
JLCO-JULIA AMARAL/GETTY IMAGES

The Citi Double Money earns 2% on each buy (1% whenever you purchase and 1% whenever you pay your invoice), whereas the Chase Freedom Limitless earns 1.5% again on all nonbonus classes. Each are no-annual-fee playing cards, and you may pair them with others inside their issuer lineups to maximise your redemption choices and worth.

Take into account playing cards with assertion credit

Playing cards just like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs) and the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see charges and costs) provide assertion credit you should utilize on reside leisure that would make including one among these to playing cards to pockets worthwhile.

Sapphire concert series Odesza
CAROLINE TANNER/THE POINTS GUY

The Sapphire Reserve presents an annual as much as $300 StubHub/Viagogo credit score (as much as $150 biannually) by means of Dec. 31, 2027. The Citi Strata Elite presents an annual $200 Splurge credit score, which can be utilized at 5 retailers, together with Reside Nation (a ticket reserving platform).

Associated: Citi Strata Elite evaluation

Remember about unique entry perks

Maximizing bank cards includes extra than simply rewards (although incomes rewards is essentially a part of that equation).

Concert photo
ETHAN MILLER/GETTY IMAGES

Some high journey playing cards provide unique perks for leisure occasions. Some issuers maintain invite-only occasions that grant you entry to buy hard-to-get tickets with a particular premium bank card. In these instances, it could make sense to make use of a card that does not essentially earn rewards on leisure purchases. All of it is determined by what you discover extra priceless in every state of affairs.

Associated: Playing cards that supply VIP occasion entry

Backside line

Whether or not you’re a curler coaster aficionado, stand-up comedy fan or one thing in between, it is good to have a card that helps you earn extra rewards on these purchases and supplies alternatives for enhanced experiences.

Simply keep in mind that some purchases could not code inside the leisure class, relying on how and the place you make your buy. When you aren’t positive how your buy will code, use a stable flat-rate card to make sure you’ll earn good rewards in your buy.

Associated: One of the best bank cards for every bonus class

Share This Article