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Travel Smart With Steph

Travel Smart With Steph's Top Credit Card Picks

If you've been following me for a while, you know I LOVE a great flight or hotel deal! But what I love even more is using credit card points  and miles to make those deals even sweeter. Here are a few of my absolute favorite cards, which also happen to be some of the best on the market right now.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Apply for Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

at Chase's secure site

Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.

Apply now
for Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Travel Smart With Steph's Take

"The generous sign-up bonus alone makes this one of the top business cards available, offering over $1K in free travel! Additionally, it boasts excellent travel rewards, a very reasonable annual fee, and impressive points-earning potential."

Intro offer

Earn 100,000 bonus points

Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Rewards rate

3X
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year
1X
Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases – with no limit to the amount you can earn
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
17.74% - 26.74% Variable
  • Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
  • Earn 5x total points on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
  • With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
  • Go further when you book with Chase Travel℠. Enjoy competitive rates, seamless booking and premium benefits.
  • Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
  • Receive complimentary access to DashPass by DoorDash.
  • Member FDIC

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Apply for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

at Chase's secure site

Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.

Apply now
for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Travel Smart With Steph's Take

"This card is a game-changer for anyone new to travel rewards. With points that can be effortlessly transferred to a multitude of airline and hotel partners, redeeming them is a breeze. It's so exceptional that it has earned a permanent spot in my wallet. Trust me, it's just THAT good!"

Intro offer

75,000 bonus points

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Rewards rate

5x
Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
3x
Earn 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.
2x
Earn 2x on all other travel purchases.
1x
Earn 1x on all other purchases.
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
19.24% - 27.49% Variable
  • Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
  • Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
  • 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
  • Member FDIC

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Apply for Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

at Capital One's secure site

Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.

Apply now
for Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Travel Smart With Steph's Take

"This user-friendly card makes earning free travel a super easy. You can transfer miles to a wide range of airline partners and even redeem them for any travel-related expense on your credit card statement. Its versatility and ease of use make it an absolute favorite of mine."

Intro offer

Earn 75,000 miles

Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

Rewards rate

5X miles
Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
2X miles
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
19.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
  • Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
  • Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Top rated mobile app

American Express® Gold Card

Apply for American Express® Gold Card

at American Express's secure site

Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.

Partner offer.

Apply now
for American Express® Gold Card

Travel Smart With Steph's Take

"I love this card for its incredible returns on spending at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants, which is where I spend most of my money. While the annual fee is higher than most in this category, the insane savings on everyday expenses essentially cancel it out. It's truly a game-changer for maximizing your daily spending!"

Intro offer

As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Rewards rate

4X
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4X
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
5X
New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
3X
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
2X
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1X
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Annual fee
$325
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
  • Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
  • New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
  • Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
  • Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
  • Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.