Best Rewards Credit Cards...

[clshirk]

Looking to see the best deal on a credit card to open for this trip. I'll use it to register my vacation and pay it off... and get the bonus cash back...
Help me decide. I have no limits, just want the best cashback deal.

I already did the Disney Visa $200 reward a few years ago. I don't think I'm eligible for that deal yet.

I have the offer for Marriott 80,000 points, but I don't think it returns points to the extent I'd get $800 back, or I would do that.

Citi Premier has a good deal it seems- I could get $500 back off this one.
http://creditcards.citicards.com/us...7&ProspectID=E0693CE8933C4D09B3519DA6ED1EAB8E

here are other ideas...
https://millionmilesecrets.com/hot-deals/#td

 

[Marionnette]

Looking to see the best deal on a credit card to open for this trip. I'll use it to register my vacation and pay it off... and get the bonus cash back...
Help me decide. I have no limits, just want the best cashback deal.

I already did the Disney Visa $200 reward a few years ago. I don't think I'm eligible for that deal yet.

I have the offer for Marriott 80,000 points, but I don't think it returns points to the extent I'd get $800 back, or I would do that.

Citi Premier has a good deal it seems- I could get $500 back off this one.
http://creditcards.citicards.com/us...7&ProspectID=E0693CE8933C4D09B3519DA6ED1EAB8E

here are other ideas...
https://millionmilesecrets.com/hot-deals/#td

TBH, millionmilessecrets or thepointsguy are both excellent resources for current credit card bonus offers. It's not a matter of which deal is the best overall, it's a matter of the best magical deal with points that YOU can use.

 

[clshirk]

Yeah they both look great. Just trying to decide which is the best cash back deal...lol. Any point redemptions usually can be turned into cash.

 

[clshirk]

I went with Citi Thank you. It should bonus me $500 back and points on things I use.

REcommend to others if you want to use a good card for travel booking.

 

[Marionnette]

Yeah they both look great. Just trying to decide which is the best cash back deal...lol. Any point redemptions usually can be turned into cash.

While it's true that pretty much every CC points program gives you the option to redeem for cash (either as a statement credit, direct deposit or a check), sometimes you make out far better to use the points for other purposes.

For intance, redeeming 40K in points on Chase's Ultimate Rewards will net you $500 worth of travel when you book through their portal. But if you redeem the same number of points for cash, then the value of those points gets magically reduced to $400. I'll concede that "cash is king", but when you lose 20% of the value of your hard-earned rewards points, it's best to examine how you could use those points before you jump on the next deal.

 

[Marionnette]

I went with Citi Thank you. It should bonus me $500 back and points on things I use.

REcommend to others if you want to use a good card for travel booking.

You could redeem those points for $625 worth of travel instead of getting $500 in cash. It's a much better use of those points since you mentioned that you would be using the points to pay for your next magical vacation.

 

[clshirk]

So I know what you're saying. 2 years ago I did this with the Chase Sapphire card. However, I found that by going through the rewards system for travel options, often the cost of the places to stay were marked up or just not on sale... when I could get that 20% discount with cash going a different route. I will likely look into those options though. I know I couldn't use the points with Chase to stay at Disney Resorts... and honestly, I rarely travel.

 

[Marionnette]

So I know what you're saying. 2 years ago I did this with the Chase Sapphire card. However, I found that by going through the rewards system for travel options, often the cost of the places to stay were marked up or just not on sale... when I could get that 20% discount with cash going a different route. I will likely look into those options though. I know I couldn't use the points with Chase to stay at Disney Resorts... and honestly, I rarely travel.

Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi Thank You Rewards both offer Disney resorts but I don't recall whether they were at rack rate or the current discount. Orbitz has always had better pricing when they offer a code that includes Disney resorts because you can stack their code on top of the room-only discount (plus I get the credit card rewards, Orbitz Bucks and a rebate from eBates). So in that case, cash is a better deal. Airfare is on a par with what I would pay going directly through the airline's website, so going through the rewards' portal is better than getting cash. Have a magical trip!

 

[feezle]

American Express Preferred Cash is my Go-To Credit Card for cash back. 6% back at grocery stores for the first $6k you spend in a year. We use ours at Giant Eagle to purchase gift cards. Giant Eagle also gives fuelperks, and we usually wait until they are 20 cents off for every $50 you spend on gift cards. They let you get 30 gallons at the discounted price so with double fuel perks and the 6% off we are netting 18% off of everything we use giftcards for. We haven't had to buy gas in a couple of years except if we are on long trips...even then, our first tank is always free.

On top of that, I have found that AMEX blows everyone away with offers. Small Business Saturday has saved me so much money the past 2 years on Christmas presents. Considering each card gets the perks, and my wife has a card on my account, we can double dip on everything. We have actually almost blown through my $6k limit on groceries at the 6% this year so my wife got her own account. So now we get to take advantage of offers 3 times.

There is a $75 annual fee but they give you $150 back after spending your first $1k so that pays for 2 years worth of use. Considering how much the card saves me throughout the year, that is a drop in the bucket.

For anything that I can't buy with a giftcard, I use my Citi Double Cash Back card. 2% on everything.

 

[3beauties1beast]

Frezzle,

Thanks so much. We shop Giant Eagle too, and have been looking at getting a reward car. Your suggestion is great!

 

[havaneselover]

American Express Preferred Cash is my Go-To Credit Card for cash back. 6% back at grocery stores for the first $6k you spend in a year. We use ours at Giant Eagle to purchase gift cards. Giant Eagle also gives fuelperks, and we usually wait until they are 20 cents off for every $50 you spend on gift cards. They let you get 30 gallons at the discounted price so with double fuel perks and the 6% off we are netting 18% off of everything we use giftcards for. We haven't had to buy gas in a couple of years except if we are on long trips...even then, our first tank is always free.

On top of that, I have found that AMEX blows everyone away with offers. Small Business Saturday has saved me so much money the past 2 years on Christmas presents. Considering each card gets the perks, and my wife has a card on my account, we can double dip on everything. We have actually almost blown through my $6k limit on groceries at the 6% this year so my wife got her own account. So now we get to take advantage of offers 3 times.

There is a $75 annual fee but they give you $150 back after spending your first $1k so that pays for 2 years worth of use. Considering how much the card saves me throughout the year, that is a drop in the bucket.

For anything that I can't buy with a giftcard, I use my Citi Double Cash Back card. 2% on everything.

My favorite card as well $740 in savings from offers over the last 20 months. I buy everything I can with gift cards.

 

[GOOFY D]

American Express Preferred Cash is my Go-To Credit Card for cash back. 6% back at grocery stores for the first $6k you spend in a year. We use ours at Giant Eagle to purchase gift cards. Giant Eagle also gives fuelperks, and we usually wait until they are 20 cents off for every $50 you spend on gift cards. They let you get 30 gallons at the discounted price so with double fuel perks and the 6% off we are netting 18% off of everything we use giftcards for. We haven't had to buy gas in a couple of years except if we are on long trips...even then, our first tank is always free.

On top of that, I have found that AMEX blows everyone away with offers. Small Business Saturday has saved me so much money the past 2 years on Christmas presents. Considering each card gets the perks, and my wife has a card on my account, we can double dip on everything. We have actually almost blown through my $6k limit on groceries at the 6% this year so my wife got her own account. So now we get to take advantage of offers 3 times.

There is a $75 annual fee but they give you $150 back after spending your first $1k so that pays for 2 years worth of use. Considering how much the card saves me throughout the year, that is a drop in the bucket.

For anything that I can't buy with a giftcard, I use my Citi Double Cash Back card. 2% on everything.

Too restrictive for me as we shop a lot at Wal Mart and Target (for groceries and retail) and both are excluded from the bonuses for grocery AND department stores.

 

[havaneselover]

Too restrictive for me as we shop a lot at Wal Mart and Target (for groceries and retail) and both are excluded from the bonuses for grocery AND department stores.

I get that but I also do most of my grocery shopping at target, Walmart, or Costco and max the grocery rebate out by buying gift cards at Kroger (mainly for Target).

 

[GOOFY D]

I get that but I also do most of my grocery shopping at target, Walmart, or Costco and max the grocery rebate out by buying gift cards at Kroger (mainly for Target).

If I had a Kroger nearby, I may consider that for the Kroger benefits. However, not worth the additional trips to search for gift cards to shop where I normally shop.

 

[feezle]

We do quite a bit at Target now that GE sells GCs for there too. Amazon as well.

I use Citi at Walmart. 2% is better than nothing.

 

[calypso726]

I prefer reward cards that offer points that can transfer to airline miles. We tend to get better value that way as opposed to cash back. 125,00 points would be worth $1,250 when redeemed for cash. Transferring those points to airline miles we could redeem a first class round trip ticket to Europe which would sell for $7,000 - $12,000 and then some. We just got back from the 11 night Norway, Iceland, Scotland cruise. We were able to fly there and back in first class on miles. Economy seats were selling for much more than we paid on the taxes for our tickets. We stayed a pre-night in Copenhagen on points and post weekend stay in London also on points. Not having to budget for airfare and hotels helps us afford a little luxury in our travels and furthers our vacation dollars.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I prefer reward cards that offer points that can transfer to airline miles. We tend to get better value that way as opposed to cash back. 125,00 points would be worth $1,250 when redeemed for cash. Transferring those points to airline miles we could redeem a first class round trip ticket to Europe which would sell for $7,000 - $12,000 and then some. We just got back from the 11 night Norway, Iceland, Scotland cruise. We were able to fly there and back in first class on miles. Economy seats were selling for much more than we paid on the taxes for our tickets. We stayed a pre-night in Copenhagen on points and post weekend stay in London also on points. Not having to budget for airfare and hotels helps us afford a little luxury in our travels and furthers our vacation dollars.

I like a rewards card that can transfer also.
The OP said she rarely travels though. Going with a card like the Amex mentioned upthread might be a better option for her.

 

[SUSIEQ]

Too restrictive for me as we shop a lot at Wal Mart and Target (for groceries and retail) and both are excluded from the bonuses for grocery AND department stores.

If I had a Kroger nearby, I may consider that for the Kroger benefits. However, not worth the additional trips to search for gift cards to shop where I normally shop.

Yea, sounds like the Amex is definately not for you!

 

[Marionnette]

I like a rewards card that can transfer also.
The OP said she rarely travels though. Going with a card like the Amex mentioned upthread might be a better option for her.

I agree. That's why we have the Chase Sapphire (for personal expenses) and Chase Ink (for business expenses). The points can be redeemed in a variety of ways or transferred to another loyalty program. I find that AmEx is not as widely accepted as Visa and MC because of their higher merchant fees.

 

[ski_mom]

I prefer reward cards that offer points that can transfer to airline miles. We tend to get better value that way as opposed to cash back. 125,00 points would be worth $1,250 when redeemed for cash. Transferring those points to airline miles we could redeem a first class round trip ticket to Europe which would sell for $7,000 - $12,000 and then some. We just got back from the 11 night Norway, Iceland, Scotland cruise. We were able to fly there and back in first class on miles. Economy seats were selling for much more than we paid on the taxes for our tickets. We stayed a pre-night in Copenhagen on points and post weekend stay in London also on points. Not having to budget for airfare and hotels helps us afford a little luxury in our travels and furthers our vacation dollars.

Wow, sounds like you did great!

Do you know are there any forums for beginners learning how to do this? I follow million miles secrets (I guess I can say that here) and I have learned a lot, but our family along with my sister's family and my mom are wanting to do a hawaiian cruise next summer and I would love to figure out a way that we could fly there with points. I've used Southwest's signup bonuses 2 times for myself and once for my DH and I find them very easy to use and we've had a lot of free flights from the cards, but unfortunately they don't fly to Hawaii.

I've looked into American Airlines cards because they also have good signup bonuses that could probably help, but I've never felt confident that we'd all be able to book on the same flights, etc and would love to post a question about it where I could get some interactive feedback like we do here.