Cash back · Mastercard · No annual fee
Last verified 2026-09-09. Review issuer source
The AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard from Barclays is a no-annual-fee cash back card from Barclays. Its best everyday rates are 3% on airfare, 3% on car rentals, and 3% on hotels; everything else earns 1%.
On our reference budget of $24,600 a year it returns about $342, an effective 1.4% back. The welcome bonus, $100 after $500 in 90 days, adds to the first year's return.
Put the bonus categories on it and everything else on a flat 2% card. On its own the base rate drags the average down.
Earn Unlimited 3% Cash Back On Airfare
Earn Unlimited 3% Cash Back On Car Rentals.
Earn Unlimited 2% Cash Back on Restaurant purchases.
Earn Unlimited 3% Cash Back On Hotel Stays.
Upon approval, cardmembers can earn a $100 cash back bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first 90 days after account opening.
Barclays will donate $10 to AARP Foundation for every new account.
Barclays will donate 1% of eligible purchases to AARP Foundation.
Redeem rewards for an AARP membership for yourself or as a gift. Options start at $16 in rewards.
These come from Mastercard, not from Barclays. Every card on the Standard Mastercard tier carries them, so they should not decide between two cards.
Call 1-800-MASTERCARD (1-800-627-8372) for 24/7 assistance to report a lost or stolen card.
Enjoy a HealthLock for Mastercard Medical Claim Monitor complimentary membership plus a 90-day upgrade to all HealthLock services at no monthly cost.
Groceries and more delivered in as fast as one hour. Get $10 off your second order each month, and new Instacart+ members can also get three free months of Instacart+.
Monitor your credit file for fraud, get alerts for suspicious activity and access a resolution specialist.
Mastercard gives you exclusive access to ticket presales at top venues and festivals across the U.S. Eligibility restrictions, exclusions and terms apply. Offer expires 3/31/2027.
Save when you tap and go with your eligible Mastercard and receive a $2.50 statement credit when you spend $10 or more each month at participating transit systems.
With Mastercard Zero Liability protection you’re protected against unauthorized transactions in stores, online and in app.
Benefit descriptions are the issuer’s and network’s own wording, trimmed for length. Limits and exclusions are in the guide to benefits.
| Card | Annual fee | Rewards earned | Net after fee | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The AARP® Travel Rewards Mastercard®This card · 3% on airfare | None | $342 | +$342 | 519th of 1,291 |
| Upromise® Mastercard®Barclays's most-held other card · 1.25% on everything | None | $308 | +$308 | 528th of 1,291 |
| Savor RewardsThe strongest no-fee card on this budget · 3% on dining | None | $642 | +$642 | 4th of 1,291 |
| Robinhood Gold CardHighest net return on this budget · 3% on everything | $50 | $798 | +$748 | 1st of 1,291 |
Reference budget: groceries $6,000, dining and restaurants $3,600, gas and ev charging $2,400, travel and transit $3,000, online shopping $2,400, entertainment and streaming $1,200, everything else $6,000. Points are valued at 1¢ unless the program is worth less; statement credits, welcome bonuses, and perks are left out. Run it with your own spending.
