Best credit card to rack up travel points?

[lovinpoohbear]

I do have Disney Chase but I have been hearing of other credit cards where you can cash in points for hotel stays etc? What is the best one to apply for with no annual fee?

 

[Marionnette]

I do have Disney Chase but I have been hearing of other credit cards where you can cash in points for hotel stays etc? What is the best one to apply for with no annual fee?

"Best" is subjective. It amounts to what works best for you. Most rewards credit cards come with annual fees. Those that do not are often NOT the best earners. The CapitalOne VentureOne card may be a good choice if you want no fees and an easy way to redeem your rewards for travel.

If you want bigger rewards that can be redeemed for cash, the Discover IT card might be a good choice. The rewards are 1% on all purchases but every quarter, there are bonus categories that give you 5% back. Discover also matches your cash back at the end of your first year as a card holder.

 

[Natgridenergy]

Head on over to the I love credit cards thread. Hundreds of posts of useful information!!!

 

[DLgal]

Chase Sapphire Reserve

 

[Marionnette]

Chase Sapphire Reserve

$450 annual fee. The OP wanted a no-fee card.

 

[DLgal]

$450 annual fee. The OP wanted a no-fee card.

Ah...missed that part. Although, no fee cards don't generally give great rewards.

 

[jhoannam]

If you want to use credit card points to stay at Disney hotels, Chase cards are the best. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is probably your Best card, your first year the annual fee $95 is waived, and the sign up bonus is 50k points which is about $700 in travel credit. You do have to spend $4k in 3 months to get the bonus. For details go to the Credit card thread.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

If you want to use credit card points to stay at Disney hotels, Chase cards are the best. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is probably your Best card, your first year the annual fee $95 is waived, and the sign up bonus is 50k points which is about $700 in travel credit. You do have to spend $4k in 3 months to get the bonus. For details go to the Credit card thread.

I have this card and love it. Going on 3 years now. We have redeemed award points for flights and hotel stays at the Boardwalk and Hyatt MCO pre-cruise.
Getting double points on travel and dining really helps. Even ordering a pizza or paying for airport parking counts for double pts.
We are saving for flights to Europe (DCL to Norway 2019) and easily saved 1.5 seats. I’d be thrilled to have 2 RT seats to London by next winter. The AF was $85 when we signed up so we’re locked in to that.
I can also earn extra points when shopping online through their portal at sites like Macy’s, Best Buy, Home Depot, LLBean and many more.
Every little bit helps.

 

[Albort]

you will have some difficulty finding a rewards card that pays in miles without an AF. Most travel cards that redeem for miles are usually AF required.

If there was a single card you want to get with no AF, get a high Cash Back card, ie Fidelity or Double Cash, that gets u 2% on every purchase you make. save the money in there and then redeem for cashback for travel.

 

[hawaiilife]

Yup, the Chase Sapphire Reserve. We just signed up for it in April and used it to book our most recent WDW vacation. If you travel a lot, this card is a no brainer, and its more than worth the annual fee. Priority Pass is amazing especially when travelling with little kids.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Another vote for CSR!

 

[MillauFr]

i recommend the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

 

[tasha99]

Chase Sapphire Reserve is a great card, and really only $55 more than the Preferred because they give you an annual $300 travel credit. You earn points faster than the preferred, and the points themselves have a higher redemption value.

 

[lancermom]

Chase's rewards program is excellent. If you can get the Chase Sapphire Reserve, go for it. If not, then try the Chase Sapphire Preferred. I have the Preferred and hope to upgrade to the Reserve eventually.

You are going to have to compromise. It's either no AF or a good rewards program. But you aren't going to get both with one card.

 

[kydisneyfans]

I also agree that the various Chase cards(outside of the Disney Visa) are some of the best out there. We are flying to London and back in August and only will be paying the various airport fees. I would not let an annual fee stop me from getting a card either. We have the Hilton Amex card with a $75 AF, but also get a free weekend night at a Hilton branded property anywhere. We booked the Conrad near Buckingham Palace/Westminster Abbey-current US price is $409, for nothing(outside of the $75).

I would check the branded cards for the brands you like-if you stay at Marriott, is the Marriott card worth it?

My wife and I carry around 25 different branded cards and have a spreadsheet to maximize points when purchases are made.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Sapphire reserve. You get an $100 reimbursement if you apply for TSA Precheck, $300 travel reimbursement, Priority Club access for you and two guest. I just booked a first class ticket on United for 12K points using my Chase points. Had I used my United points it would have cost me 50K points for one ticket.The only reason I booked first class is the fact it was so cheap. Plus Chase allows you to use part points & part cash to make a reservation.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Yup, the Chase Sapphire Reserve. We just signed up for it in April and used it to book our most recent WDW vacation. If you travel a lot, this card is a no brainer, and its more than worth the annual fee. Priority Pass is amazing especially when travelling with little kids.

To bad come Aug 26 this year they are now only allowing 2 free guest to join the card holder into the Priority lounges and charging $27 a piece for each additional guest.


We continuously review our products to ensure we offer best in class features which sometimes means streamlining other features.

Chase Sapphire Reserve updates:

• Each year, customers automatically receive up to $300 in statement credits as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to their card. However, customers will no longer earn 3x points on travel purchases that qualify for the $300 Annual Travel credit.
• Priority Pass Select access will be limited to two guests per visit. If customers have more than two guests, a fee of $27 will be charged to their Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card for each additional guest within two statement cycles.
• Price Protection will no longer be available.

Customers will apparently be notified about these changes in early May, and the changes are expected to go into effect as of August 26, 2018.

What I make of these changes
It goes without saying that these are negative changes, though if these are the only changes coming to the card, color me relieved. Let’s look at the changes individually.

First of all they’re cutting Priority Pass guesting privileges from an unlimited number of guests to two guests per cardmember (meaning a total of three people). On one hand this is unfortunate for those traveling as families. At the same time, I know several people made a habit of bringing lots of people into lounges, and I imagine that became very costly for Chase very quickly.