Picking the right rewards credit card may feel overwhelming. That’s because there are so many different options that it’s hard to know which is best for you.
I’ve been traveling using rewards credit cards for over 20 years, easily saving thousands each trip. These are the cards in my wallet that I use to earn and enjoy free travel.
Whether it is a Business or Personal card, you will find one that matches your spending and travel goals.
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Personal Cards
on Chase’s website
IHG One Rewards Premier Mastercard
on Chase’s website
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express
on American Express’ website
Hilton Honors Aspire American Express
on American Express’ website
United Quest Mileage Plus Chase Visa
on Chase’s website
Business Cards
on Chase’s website
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Mastercard
on Chase’s website
Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express
on American Express’ website
Hilton Honors Business American Express
on American Express’ website
Aside from reward points and miles, many of these cards also provide additional perks, such as discounts at select retailers, travel insurance, annual statement credits and more that make using a rewards card truly worthwhile. Please read the fine print for full offer when applying.
You don’t have to be an aggressive points optimizer to enjoy the perks that come with a good rewards credit card. With the right card and good financial habits (paying your balance off on time and in full each month) you can reap the rewards of free travel.
Here is an overview of each card and why I own them
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Visa
I own it for:
- New cardholder bonus offer (at this time 75,00 points for Limited Time)
- Great Transfer Partners Selection of major hotels and airlines programs
- Bonus categories, 3x points on dining, 2x on Travel, 5x on Chase Ultimate Travel Purchases, Please see additional bonus categories
- Primary rental car coverage
- Flexible rewards redemption
- Low Annual fee
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Annual fee
$95
on Chase’s website
Chase Ink Business Preferred Visa
This is my favorite credit card for earning points on travel and business expenses.
I wrote a separate post with more details: READ HERE
I own it for:
Huge sign up bonus, 100,000 points after spending $8000 over 3 months
Please check the latest offers.
Low annual fee
3x points on Shipping purchases
- Internet, cable and phone services
- Advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines
- Travel
Easy transfer to multiple airlines and hotel partners including United(Star Alliance), Emirates, Singapore airline and Marriott among many others)
You can combine points with Sapphire card and pool together within a household
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
on Chase’s website
IHG One Rewards Premier Mastercard from Chase
IHG is quickly becoming my favorite Hotel rewards program.
Although its hotels within the USA are mostly associated with mid-level Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza, overseas IHG offers a large number of upmarket and luxury brands like InterContinental, Regent (Carlton Hotel, Cannes), Indigo boutique brand and Kimpton. It has a booking deal with other brands like Venetian in Las Vegas, IHG rewards offer every 4th night free when booking with points, unlike Marriott and Hilton where every 5th night is free. This makes it a perfect city getaway option.
IHG One Rewards Premier Mastercard from Chase
Own it for:
- Earn 140,000 Bonus Points or 4 Free nights (check latest offer)
- Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a reward night when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG® hotel stay.
- Earn up to 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier card member
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
- IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Kimpton®, EVEN® Hotels, Indigo® Hotels & Holiday Inn®
- Low annual fee
IHG® One Rewards Premier Credithttps://www.referyourchasecard.com/210u/IQTQ2B0J07 Card
Annual fee$99
APPLY NOW
on Chase’s website
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Mastercard from Chase
Own it for:
Sign-up bonus: Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.(check for latest offer)
Rewards:
- 10X points on purchases made at hotels participating in IHG Rewards.
- 5X points on travel; at restaurants, gas stations and office supply stores; and on social media and search engine advertising.
- 3X points on all other purchases.
- Free night award each year on your account anniversary. Additional free night if you spend more than $60,000 on purchases in a calendar year.
- $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points when you spend at least $20,000 in a calendar year.
- Statement credit of up to $100 every four years toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee.
- Redeem three rewards nights, get the fourth night free.
- Automatic IHG® Rewards Platinum Elite status.
https://www.referyourchasecard.com/210u/IQTQ2B0J07IHG® One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
ANNUAL FEE
$99
on Chase’s website
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express
This is a most controversial card in my wallet as it carries a highest annual fee of $650
When American Express raised the fee for the second time in 5 years and changed some benefits I was close to canceling this card and changing to Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express® Card with $250 fee
This is why it is still in my wallet:
- Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus (For Limited time 180,000) points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
- With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month (this alone when used toward Ritz or Sr. Regis can be valued at over $2000 when combined with suite upgrade)
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit (see limits)
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status
- Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select (also for a second cardholder) which offers unlimited access to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. Great for foreign economy travel.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- Phone Protection (see limits)
- $650 Annual Fee.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Annual fee
$650
on American Express’ website
Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express
Why I own it:
Earn 6x points for each dollar spent on eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy properties and 4x points for every dollar of eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. Plus earn 2x points per dollar on all other purchases.
Earn three Free Night Awards after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points for each bonus Free Night Award (up to 150,000 point equivalent) Check Terms.
Every year on your account anniversary, you earn one free night at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program that can be redeemed for 35,000 points or less. If you spend $60,000 a year on the card, you’ll earn a second night for free as well. (this covers well over the $125 annual fee)
Low annual fee $125
No Foreign Transaction fees
on American Express’ Website
Hilton Honors Aspire American Express
My Top Hotel Card
Great limited time offer!!!!
LIMITED TIME OFFER
Earn 180,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points
after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.† Offer Ends 1/17/2024.
Why I own it:
LIMITED TIME OFFER:Earn 180,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 1/17/2024.
Complimentary Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status
Access to hotel lounges and breakfast or food credit for each night, complimentary upgrades
14X Earn 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points per $1 of eligible purchases on your Card made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio
Earn 7X Bonus Points for eligible purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies & at U.S. restaurants.
Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
Fee of $550 offset by:
NEW $400 Hilton Resort Credit
Get up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts on your Hilton Honors Aspire Card. That’s up to $400 back annually.
Free Night Reward
Plus, earn an additional Free Night Reward from Hilton after making $30,000 in purchases and another after making $60,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
$200 Flight Credit
Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $200 back each year, on flight purchases made directly with an airline or through amextravel.com using your Hilton Honors Aspire Card.‡
$189 CLEAR® Plus Credit
on American Express’ Website
Hilton Honors Business American Express
Why I own it:
Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points (check for offer details)
Free Night Reward (after $15K spending)
Second Free Night Reward (after $60K spending)
Priority PassSelect – 10 Complimentary Visits
Upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond Status
Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status
No foreign Transaction Fees
Low annual fee
Hilton Honors Bonus Points
12X Points per dollar for purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
6X Points per dollar on select business purchases
- at U.S. gas stations
- on wireless telephone services purchases directly from U.S. service providers
- on U.S. purchases for shipping
6X Points per dollar on select travel purchases
- at U.S. restaurants
- on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel
- on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies
3X Points per dollar on other purchases
on American Express’ website
United Quest Mileage Plus Chase Visa
This is my go to Airline Rewards Credit cards, absolute must for maximizing award travel.
United Airlines partners with Star Alliance members to open additional Saver awards to destinations around the world. Booking on United Airlines portal is the easiest in the industry. You can transfer your Chase Ultimate rewards points as well, and they post within minutes if not instantaneously. This allows you to book rewards flights on Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Brussels, TAP, LOT, Singapore, New Zealand, SAS, Turkish and many others. See full list here.
Other benefits making this card worth every penny are:
- Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 500 PQP after qualifying purchases
- Earn 3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel, dining and select streaming services
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Free first and second checked bags – a savings of up to $320 per round trip (terms apply) – and priority boarding
- Up to a $125 United® purchase credit and up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits each year – terms apply
- Up to $100 credit on TSA Precheck, Global Entry or NEXUS.
- 25% back on United in-flight purchases, including Wi-Fi, food and beverages.
- Travel protections.
- Perks at some hotels and resorts booked with the card through the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection.
- A one-year complimentary DashPass membership for both DoorDash and Caviar. Terms apply.
Annual fee
$250
on Chase’s website
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