With America's favorite season fast approaching (sorry, winter), many consumers are evaluating the quality of the credit cards in their wallet as they look to save on summer travel and expenses.

According to Creditnet.com - a leading credit card comparison and personal finance website - responsible credit card use can end up saving consumers on everything from airfare to gas, and even excursions abroad. That's why Creditnet today released its list of the 5 best credit cards of summer 2013 for consumers planning to jet-set abroad, hit the open road or just ... chill.

Here are the top 5 credit card offers for summer according to Creditnet:

1.) Chase Sapphire Preferred® - Best for Bonus Points

No card offers a better bonus offer this summer than this travel points card from Chase. Consumers that spend $3,000 in 3 months from account opening receive 40,000 bonus points, which according to Chase is equal to $500 toward travel rewards.

Especially lucrative for consumers with travel plans this summer, this card rewards travel and restaurant dining purchases with 2 points per dollar spent, and the Chase Ultimate Rewards(SM) program offers cardholders 20 percent off travel when they redeem for airfare, hotel stays and other travel-related expenses.

Finally, consumers planning on travelling abroad can take this card along and pay no foreign transaction fees. The annual fee is waived the first year and is $95 thereafter, and this card is reserved for consumers with excellent credit.

Overall, this is Creditnet's no. 1 pick for summer travel in 2013.

2.) Discover it® - Best for the Open Road

This excellent cash back card from Discover recently announced that cardholders would earn 5 percent cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases made at gas stations beginning July 1st and ending September 30th (quarter 3 of 2013). So consumers looking to cut costs at the pump can save 5 cents for every dollar up to $1,500 while earning 1 percent cash back on all other purchases, open road or otherwise.

While the cash back program sets this card apart from others this summer, Discover it also features a 14-month interest-free period applied to new purchases and balance transfers, and it's one of the best credit cards with no annual fee available today. Cardholders can also earn up to 20 percent cash back when shopping through Discover's online marketplace, be it on summer apparel, 4th of July party favors or any other summer expense.

This is Creditnet's top pick for road-trippers this summer.

3.) Chase United MileagePlus® Explorer Card - Best for Jet-Setters

Frequent flier consumers loyal to United Airlines would be wise to apply for this co-branded airline credit card from Chase. Members earn 30,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months, and the $95 annual fee is waived year one.

However, it's the VIP perks that make this Creditnet's no. 1 choice for jet-setters this summer. Members can check their first bag each way for free, enjoy priority boarding privileges, and can take advantage of two United Club passes every year. Cardholders also earn double miles on all United ticket purchases, though again this card is reserved for excellent credit consumers.

4.) Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express - Best to Fund a Backyard BBQ

According to Creditnet, no card rewards grocery purchases quite like this cash back offer from American Express. Members can earn 6 percent cash back on up to $6,000 in purchases made at US supermarkets each year. Terms and limitations do apply, but there's legitimately no better way to fund an Independence Day BBQ than with this credit card from AmEx.

Members will also earn points just for getting to the store, since the Blue Cash Preferred Card rewards cardholders with 3 percent cash back at US gas stations and select department stores.

This is another card reserved for consumers with excellent credit, and there's an annual fee of $75. That said, no card pays as well for gas and grocery purchases as this offer from AmEx.

5.) Citi Simplicity® Card - Best for Summer Debt Payoff

Finally, consumers taking on the task of eliminating credit debt during the summer months will find no card as friendly to the cause as Citi Simplicity. Cardholders pay no interest on new purchases and balance transfers for 18 months, giving consumers transferring existing debt riddled with interest the opportunity to pay it down at zero percent well into summer, 2014.

There's no rewards program, but there's also no annual fee, no penalty APR and no late fees - ever. Consumers hoping to keep spending simple this summer will find this card from Citi as easy to manage as they come.

For more information regarding credit cards, personal finance or other credit-related topics, contact Creditnet.com Editor Jason Bushey on Google+ or using the Twitter handle, @Creditnet.