ADVERTISER DISCLOSURE:
Wayfaren is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites such as MileValue.com and Bankrate.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. We appreciate it when you use our affiliate links as it supports our content at no cost to you!
EDITORIAL NOTE:
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included with the post.
If you’ve been around here for any amount of time, you know we earn the bulk of our points for nearly free travel from big juicy welcome offers on new cards. (all without negatively impacting our credit score! In factttttt you’ll probably see your score higher than ever if you dive into reward travel!)
When possible, we DO try to take advantage of elevated offers on cards…because it just means the MOST points in our pocket for the MOST vacations possible.
Thank you so very much for using our links when you apply for a new card (when not using a referral link!)- it truly does keep all the free content and resources going!
>> And if you’re new and still navigating the basics of how to leverage your everyday spending for crazy cheap vacations with points and miles, make sure to download my free 30 page Points 101 Guide HERE! Or if face-to-face, visual learning is more your style- watch my free Masterclass!
#1 Travel Reward Card
Best way to start your points and miles journey HANDS DOWN. Whether you want to dive head first into reward travel and want to take the BEST first step or you only have interest in have one powerhouse card in your wallet….the Chase Sapphire is IT.
The value in this card lies in it’s incredibly varied and valuable transfer partners (looking at your Hyatt). You can get SO much value out of Chase points (like when we stayed at a $2,500/night all inclusive for literally $0!) With built in robust travel and car rental insurance, 3x points on online groceries and restaurants, and access to Chase TravelSM where your points are worth 1.25x more.
This card is always the most widely recommend travel rewards card to have in your wallet and the #1 place I recommend starting your nearly free travel journey with!
💳 Learn how to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card HERE!
Business credit card (especialllyyyyy the Chase Ink cards) = the secret sauce of reward travel and tons of discounted vacations for your family!
Remember nearly anyyyonneeee can be eligible for business credit cards (answering ALL your FAQs here!) NO side hustle is too small- even something like selling your kids’ old clothes at a resale shop qualifies you to apply for business credit cards as a sole proprietor without an EIN or LLC! (read: the secret sauce of reward travel).
There are three cards in the family of Ink Business cards (and you can hold ALL 3!). These cards are always my top recommendation for the next step AFTER the Sapphire.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (no annual fee)
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (no annual fee)
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card ($95 annual fee)
The no annual fee versions don’t allow you to transfer points to travel partners ALONE, however if you have any Chase card that earns you transferrable miles (i.e. the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card). This “cash back” can be turned into incredibly valuable POINTS that can be transferred to airline or hotel partners.
SO 75,000 points for NO annual fee. Yes, you read that right…essentially just a free 75k+ points for some crazy discounted travel for you.
The combination of the Chase Ink Unlimited + personal Chase Sapphire Preferred is a lucrative and valuable place to start your nearly free travel journey!
💳 Learn more about how to apply for the Chase Ink Unlimited® card HERE!
If I could only have 2 cards forever, it would without question be the Chase Sapphire and the Venture X). This card is worth its weight in GOLD, and will always, always be on the Best Offers page round up.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
For me, the two game changing features of this card are the 2x points on EVERY purchase (this makes it a great no brainer card to use on those catch all expenses). Secondly, this card comes with free unlimited lounge access for your ENTIRE family.
The Venture X gives you access to over 1,300+ lounges worldwide (all Capital One, Priority Pass, and Plaza Premium lounges). Every card holder AND authorized user get free access to these lounges anddddd get to bring in two free guests. Once you lounge, you never go back…it truly is just the ultimate “vacation” before your vacation and completely changes your travel days.
So like I said the Venture X is another “will always be on the Best Offers page round up” and will alwaysssss be in my wallet kind of card.
💳 Learn how to apply for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card HERE!
If the steeper annual fee on that Venture X card intimidates you (I GET IT)…this card is your next best option. 🙂
The regular Capital One Venture card has a lower annual fee (but also none of those extra annual perks and credits the Venture X provides) and still the immensely valuable 2x points on EVERY PURCHASE.
This is always a fantastic next step if you already have the Chase Sapphire Preferred and have maxed out the Chase Ink business offers. Capital One miles are a game changer when it comes to saving on airfare, because the airline transfer partners of Capital One are top knotch.
…not to mention the ability to reimburse yourself for those harder to save on travel expenses (lookin’ at your Airbnb) with those miles.
💳 Learn how to apply for the Capital One Venture Rewards Card HERE!
**Very high minimum spend!** Ok this one is only going to be for a select few, BUT it is so so juicy of an opportunity it has to be included in the current Best Offers.
The Capital One Spark card earns $2,000 cash back after you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening. YES that is a STEEP minimum spend.
However, if you are a business that already has high operating expenses OR you happen to have some XL sized purchases coming up (i.e. maybe home renovations or a large investment), this offer is a CANNOT MISS opportunity.
Now the second thing of note here…you’re thinking $2,000 in cash back?! Well, that’s nice but that’s not points for travel. The BEST part about this offer is if you have a Venture miles earning card (like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or Venture X), that $2,000 in cash back can turn into 200,000 miles for travel – holy vacation!
Once you meet the minimum spend on this card you will have 260,000 points for travel in your Capital One wallet! That’s enough for SIX round trip tickets to Europe or even 2 round trip lie flat business class seats to Europe with points to spare!
💳 Learn more about how to apply for the Capital One Spark Cash Plus HERE!
Is is NOT too late to still go for the SW Companion Pass and earn BOGO flights for your family for almost 2 full years!!
There is definitely a whole strategy here (FULL GUIDE BREAKDOWN THIS WAY)- but this is probably the most lucrative sign ups…especially for families.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
By opening just two (well timed), new cards you can earn your family TWO FOR ONE flights with Southwest for nearly 24 months- SO valuable!!
Just make sure not to meet ANY of the minimum spends until after January 1st- this is KEY!!
If you have already hit many of the “best first steps” in this round up, the elevated offer on this card is a solid next move if you want something that won’t impact your 5/24 status.
For a LIMITED TIME– 60,000 Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, 1 free night at any category 1-4 Hyatt hotel after spending $15,000 on purchases within the first 6 months of account opening
Hyatt award stays are a gold mine when it comes to MASSIVE value on booking luxury hotels for nearly free. This is about the best it gets on these Hyatt cards, so if you’ve been considering these offers- NOW is the time!
💳 Learn how to apply for the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card HERE!
If you have maxed out your flexible, transferrable point earning cards for the time being- this could be a great offer for you!
As well, if you have a specific redemption in mind using AA points (maybe like 60k points lie flat seats to Japan with JAL Airlines booked via American)- this is also a fantastic opportunity.
This card has an elevated offer right now and a $0 annual fee the first year and $99 after that!
💳 Learn how to apply for the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® HERE!
Another great limited time elevated offer right now (70,000 Alaska Airlines miles!), if you already have snagged all the above super valuable flexible point cards!
Alaska Airlines miles are supppperrrr valuable for American Airlines flights or AA partner flights. If you live in an AA hub, this would be a logical next step to get some points in your wallet would allow you to book AA/AA Partner flights at rock bottom rates!
Links are floating around for 200k American Express points!! Again, if you are ready to move on to some of your next steps beyond the go-to starter cards above- stepping into AMEX with a 200k welcome offer is a no brainer!
This card would allow you to earn a hefty load of valuable, transferrable points beyond Chase points and Capital One miles, without impacting your 5/24!
American Express offers are targeted and varied, so make sure you try the link in different windows, browser, incognito and not etc- to snag the highest possible offer!
Powerhouse welcome offers like these really are the easiest and best way to rack up a TON of points for nearly free travel…with the smallest amount of effort (KEY for families!)
Again, thank you so very much for your support in using our links when you sign up for a new card!
ADVERTISER DISCLOSURE:
Wayfaren is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites such as MileValue.com and Bankrate.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. We appreciate it when you use our affiliate links as it supports our content at no cost to you!
EDITORIAL NOTE:
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included with the post.