Travel Rewards Credit Card

[summerdsea]

What is the best travel rewards credit card? Preferably, one that does not limit you to one airline or hotel. However, if you have a suggestion that limits to one airline or hotel, then please still state it. Tell me what you like about the card you are suggesting too. Thank you!

[Drake3287]

I could write a book on this very common topic! I'm one of those that charge EVERYTHING (and I mean everything) on a cash reward card and earn well over $1,000. each year and have never paid a penny in finance charges.

Years ago I started out with the United Airlines Mileage Plus Visa card earning miles, the problem was, like most people, I had a heck of a time finding available free flights (mostly to Hawaii) that worked for my schedule. After Costco came out with the American Express Cash Reward card I also got that and used it instead of the United Visa Card. For the few places that don't except AMEX, I still have the United Visa card but I switched to an unadvertised account that doesn't charge a yearly fee. The down side is this free card only gives you 50% of the miles.

Because Costco is fading out the AMEX card next year, I recently got a BofA Visa Travel Reward Card that also pays a cash reward (or travel related options). This BofA one pays a cash reward based on your tier of deposits with the bank. Because I have several large accounts, this gives me the highest cash reward rate in return. It also does not charge a foreign transaction fee for any of my trips outside the US.

Long story short, I charge everything including almost everyone one my monthly bills, I even charge my yearly DMV fees. On a recent car purchase I was able to charge $5,000. towards my downpayment, they limited the amount they would take on a credit card because it was costing them to much in fee's.

I pay my monthly credit card bill's in full each month and have never kept a balance or paid a penny in fee's. You just need to be able to trust yourself in paying it each month.

[disneysteve]

What is the best travel rewards credit card?

I think this is a faulty question. There's no such thing as the "best" credit card. It really depends on your spending patterns and your travel preferences.

I have a Marriott Visa and think it's great, but if you don't typically stay at Marriott properties it would be worthless to you. We almost never fly anywhere so an airline card would be useless to me but I know people who swear by them.

Figure out what rewards sre of the most valuable to you and seek out a card that provides those rewards.

Many of these types of cards have an annual fee. Make sure that you are getting your money's worth. For example, with my Marriott card there is an $85 annual fee but every year they give me one free night that is worth way more than $85 so the fee doesn't bother me at all.

[97guns]

ive been using my orbitz reward card and i like it alot. it gives 2% for all purchases, 5% when booking something on orbitz and 6% when you book a flight. going for a weekend trip in a few weeks and the hotel is paid for through rewards

[HappySaver]

Best TRAVEL card: Chase Sapphire Preferred. Google it and you will find all you need extolling its virtues.

[Drake3287]

Although they vary by various different benefits, the fact is there are several great deals out there. I'm just surprised more people don't play this "game" of rewards. The idea of getting $1,200. to $1,300. free each year simply by using a charge card is crazy. Once a year I cash in my AMEX check for cash at Costco and walk away with a stack of hundred dollar bills.

The girls that work the customer service desk at Costco are always telling me about how they get a ton of these large reward checks, many even bigger than mine.

The thought of watching someone paying cash for an expensive item can be hard to watch, all I see are reward points floating away!

[ExcuseMyIgnorance]

My parents are going to Europe in the fall. I just answered this question for them. We ended up going with the Chase Sapphire Preferred. http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/top-c...-credit-cards/

Without a doubt, that's the right card. However, it takes a pretty healthy credit score to get approved.

[cypher1]

My main card is Capital One Venture. No annual fee the first year, but then it goes to 60 per year. I think its 2 miles added per $1 spent. If you charge 2000 or 3000 within the first few months, you get 40,000 miles added. Which I did that easily within the first month while doing house repairs. Otherwise those miles can be used for any flight/airline I believe.

I was also looking at the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, but can't remember the main reason I chose Capital One over it. I may have to revisit that option down the road.