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best travel reward cards
Our recommendations for the
2 must have travel rewards cards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The most widely recommend #1 Travel Rewards card out there. If I could only have ONE card in my wallet it would be the Sapphire. Of note is the 3x points on online groceries + dining, built in robust travel insurance, and BEST hotel transfer partners!
My hot take
Capital One Venture X Rewards
My #2 keep FOREVER card. The best premium card on the market that offers generous, easy to use, yearly credits that make the annual fee a complete wash. Of note is the 2x miles on EVERY purchase, free unlimited lounge access for the whole family, and really valuable airline transfer partners.
My hot take
NEXT STEPS FOR MORE NEARLY FREE TRAVEL
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Another Chase business card earning opportunity. You can hold all THREE of these business cards! This one has a higher minimum spend so time opening this card with a large expense. The Preferred is the ONLY Ink card that allows you to transfer points directly to Chase airline and hotel partners without the personal Sapphire!
My hot take
Capital One Venture Rewards
If the annual fee on the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card intimidates you (I get it!)- this is your next best option! The regular Venture also earns you 2x miles on EVERY purchase and is a fantastic “beginner” card!
My hot take
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Business cards are the EASIEST way to build up your point stashes without impacting your personal credit long term. This no annual fee business card is always my next recommended step after getting the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It is marketed as a cash back card, but if you have the Sapphire that “cash back” can be moved over and turned into transferable points!
My hot take
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Another no annual fee business card to earn a LOAD of Chase points (for free!). Only different here is the Unlimited earns 1.5x points on ALL purchases. Again, it is marketed as a cash back card, but ACTUALLY earns you points if you have the Sapphire! Game changer!
My hot take
EARNING BOGO FLIGHTS WITH SOUTHWEST - COMPANION PASS CARDS
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
The lower annual fee Southwest Business card. This is another KEY part of your Southwest Companion Pass strategy. If you don’t need the larger amount of points to earn the Companion Pass, go for the Premier! Remember WAIT to complete that minimum spend until January 1st.
My hot take
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
The personal Southwest card with the best value. This is a KEY part of your Southwest Companion Pass strategy. Remember WAIT to complete that minimum spend until January 1st.
My hot take
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
The higher annual fee Southwest Business card. This is another KEY part of your Southwest Companion Pass strategy. If you need this larger amount of points to earn the Companion Pass, go for the Performance! Remember WAIT to complete that minimum spend until January 1st.
My hot take
VALUABLE “EARNING” CARDS
worth mentioning
Chase Freedom Flex®
One of my FAVORITE earning cards! The 5x point rotating categories are GOLD for racking up Chase points on everyday spending throughout the year. If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can move your Flex points over to your Sapphire to transfer out to airline and hotel partners for MAX travel value!
My hot take
American Express® Gold Card
My other FAVORITE earning card! The 4x points on supermarkets and dining is unmatched! I also hook this card up to our Rakuten account to mindlessly earn American Express points on all our purchases- SO valuable!
