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| Some of my favorite cards |
| by Brian Kelly, TPG Founder |
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It’s been a while since I’ve taken over the Daily Newsletter, and with so many new faces here, I thought I’d introduce myself and tackle the question I get the most.
When I started The Points Guy back in 2010, I was booking award trips for people. That eventually progressed to a blog and then to the website we have today, covering everything from points and miles to the many facets of the travel industry.
Even today, the question I hear the most from readers is, “Which credit card should I apply for?”
So, I thought I’d start by sharing some of my favorite cards (I have 30 in my wallet) and how I use them.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card stands out because it delivers real value without the usual coupon-book mentality of a premium card. The $395 annual fee is competitive, the card earns a simple 2 miles per dollar spent on everything, and the lounge access alone can be a game changer (the new 24-hour Capital One Lounge at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport saved my family on a recent trip).
You’ll get a $300 annual travel credit to use for booking on Capital One Travel and 10,000 miles each year on your card’s anniversary.
Current offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases within three months from account opening.
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American Express Gold Card
Another card I use to earn a lot of points quickly is my American Express® Gold Card. This card earns an amazing 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets*, which are two of my biggest spending categories.
Current offer: Apply to find out your offer, which could be as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on the card in your first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
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Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and its bonus categories are great for business owners — especially the online advertising category, which earns 3 points per dollar on up to $150,000 a year (and 1 point per dollar after that). If you spend more than that for your business, the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ has no spending cap on this category, but it does have a higher annual fee.
In my opinion, the Ink Business Preferred card is a heavyweight, especially for the low annual fee of $95.
Current offer:Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
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Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium card that offers lucrative earning rates and valuable perks, including lounge access. I earn 8 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, receive an automatic $300 annual travel credit and also get a $300 annual dining credit (split up as two semiannual $150 credits) for Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables restaurants.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are super valuable when transferred to one of Chase’s many transfer partners to book award tickets, but I also love using my points to book luxury hotels with Points Boost. In fact, some of my favorite stays this year have been at the Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech and Hotel Christopher St. Barth, booked on points.
You can still get some redemptions at The Edit hotels for 2 cents per point. And that’s why I will stay loyal to Points Boost and use my Chase Sapphire Reserve and stack my annual up-to-$500 hotel credit for The Edit stays.
Current offer: Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
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Now, only you can decide which credit card is right for you based on how you spend and what rewards you hope to earn. You don’t have to spend a ton of money to earn lucrative rewards that you can redeem for travel. Whether you want to travel in economy domestically or book a business-class award seat to Europe, there’s a rewards currency that’s a fit for you.
If you need help deciding what the best credit card might be to add to your wallet, check out our CardMatch tool. Just answer a few simple questions about your goals and how you travel to get personalized results (and maybe even some targeted welcome offers!).
Thanks for being a TPG Daily Newsletter subscriber. We’re happy to have you.
BK
* Amex Gold earning rate of 4 points per dollar on dining on up to $50,000 per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar), and 4 points per dollar spent on purchases at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar).
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| Photo Credit: EMILIA WRONSKI/THE POINTS GUY. |
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