Favorite Credit Cards
Best for Earning Points for Every Day Purchases
Our favorite credit card for earning points is Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium travel credit card that offers a variety of benefits, including:
Unlimited 2x miles on all purchases
10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
$300 annual travel credit
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit
No foreign transaction fees
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President's Circle® status
Access to Capital One Lounges
Cell phone protection
No annual fee for authorized users
Miles don't expire
No blackout dates
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has a $395 annual fee. However, the card's rewards and benefits can easily offset the annual fee for many people. For example, if you spend $30,000 per year on the card, you'll earn 60,000 miles, which is worth $600. You'll also get a $300 travel credit and a $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, which brings the card's net annual cost down to $195.
If you're a frequent traveler who values flexibility and rewards, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a great option. The card's high rewards rate, generous travel credits, and no foreign transaction fees make it a great choice for anyone who wants to save money on travel.
Here are some of the pros and cons of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card:
Pros:
Unlimited 2x miles on all purchases
10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
$300 annual travel credit
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit
No foreign transaction fees
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President's Circle® status
Access to Capital One Lounges
Cell phone protection
No annual fee for authorized users
Miles don't expire
No blackout dates
Cons:
High annual fee ($395)
Requires good to excellent credit
Some benefits may not be worth the annual fee for everyone
Overall, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a great option to accrue points for every day purchase (2x) to use for your next travel.
To sign up for Capital One Venture X. Click here.
Best for Earning Points for Dining, Streaming Services, and Online Grocery Purchases
Our favorite credit card for 3x points on dining, streaming services and online grocery purchases is Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card. It is a premium travel credit card that offers a variety of benefits, including:
Travel rewards: Earn 2x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3 points on dining, select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Travel benefits: Receive a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership for one year, up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, and purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
Here are some pros and cons of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card:
Pros:
Award-winning travel rewards: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns valuable Ultimate Rewards points that can be redeemed for travel at a variety of airlines and hotels.
Generous welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Travel benefits: Receive a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership for one year, up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, and purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
Low annual fee: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a low annual fee of $95.
Cons:
Foreign transaction fees: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee on all purchases made outside of the United States.
Not the best for everyday spending: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 2x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3 points on dining, select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
At $95 annual fee, it is an affordable credit card that can help you accumulate points quickly. Chase also has long list of hotel & airline transfer partners to maximize your points.
To sign up for Chase Sapphire Preferred. Click here.
Best Credit Card for Travel Benefits
Our favorite credit card for travel benefits is American Express Platinum Card. The American Express Platinum Card is a premium travel rewards credit card that offers a variety of benefits, including:
Sign-up bonus: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Travel rewards: Earn 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amex Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year; 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels on amextravel.com booked by both you and your Additional Card Members; 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Travel benefits: Get up to $200 in statement credits each year on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel; $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every 4 years; complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide; and purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
The American Express Platinum Card is a good option for travelers who want to earn points that can be redeemed for travel or transferred to American Express's airline and hotel partners. The card's sign-up bonus is one of the best in the travel rewards space, and the travel benefits can save you money on your next trip.
Here are some pros and cons of the American Express Platinum Card:
Pros:
Award-winning travel rewards: The American Express Platinum Card earns valuable Membership Rewards points that can be redeemed for travel at a variety of airlines and hotels.
Generous welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Travel benefits: Get up to $200 in statement credits each year on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel; $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every 4 years; complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide; and purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
High spending limits: The American Express Platinum Card has high spending limits, which can be helpful for high-income earners.
Status with airlines and hotels: The American Express Platinum Card can help you earn elite status with airlines and hotels, which can give you access to perks like free upgrades, early boarding, and lounge access.
Cons:
High annual fee: The American Express Platinum Card has a high annual fee of $695.
Foreign transaction fees: The American Express Platinum Card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee on all purchases made outside of the United States.
Not the best for everyday spending: The American Express Platinum Card earns 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amex Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year; 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels on amextravel.com booked by both you and your Additional Card Members; 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Overall, the American Express Platinum Credit Card may not be for everybody. The key is to look at the full benefits that the card offers and see if you can justify the $695 annual fee. This is not the credit card for everyday purchases. For our family, we justify the annual fee through: Monthly Uber/Uber Eats Credit ($200) + airline incidentals such as checked bags ($200) + digital entertainment credit such as Netflix & Disney+ ($240) + Saks Fifth Avenue Credit ($100) + Fine Hotels + Resorts Credit ($200) = $940. By getting $940 in annual benefits plus lounge access, global entry, CLEAR; for our family, we can justify the $695 annual fee.
To sign up for American Express Platinum Credit Card. Click here.
