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Note: If you aren’t able to pay off a card every month then this is not the right plan for you. I am only encouraging this for someone who is willing to treat credit just like a debit card and never carry a balance.
Why Credit Cards that aren’t specific to a hotel or airline? Having a card with rewards points that are flexible and can be used in lots of places is your best way to travel more! Find a deal on flights, you have points… find a deal at a hotel, you still have points! Here’s a great chart I made to help you see where your points can work.
My favorite cards:
Chase Sapphire Preferred
sign up here
get 100,000 Bonus Points when you spend $5,000 in first 3 months
— $95 Annual Fee
++ $100 Hotel Credit annually when booked through Chase
++ Free Year of Apple TV ($156 value)
++ Free TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry ($120 value every 4 years)
Earn:
3X points at all restaurants
3X points at gas stations
3X points on online grocery (excludes Walmart, Target or Warehouse Clubs)
3X points on streaming services
3X points on Airbnb & VRBO
2X points on all other travel
Amex Gold
sign up here
get up to 100,000 points when you purchase $8,000 in the first 6 months
— $325 annual fee
++ $100 in Dining Credits when you eat at local restaurants
++ $84 in Dunkin Credit ($7 per month)
++ $120 in Uber Cash ($10 per month automatic discount in app)
++ $120 Dining Credits at GrubHub, Wild Wings, Five Guys, Cheesecake Facotry or Wonder ($10 per month)
++ $100 credit back at Hotel Collection hotels booked through Amex travel
Earn:
4X points at all restaurants
4X points at grocery stores (excludes Walmart & Target)
3X points on all Flights booked directly with airlines
2X points on Rental Cars and Cruises booked through AmexTravel
5X points on Hotels booked through AmexTravel
