My Favorite Travel credit cards

[Clifbell]

Leveraging the use of travel credit cards can greatly enhance your timeshare travel experiences. I have created a video that list the credit cards I carry and why I carry them. I have created the list of credit cards in the order of the value I believe I get from them. I also include the costs of any annual maintenance fees. And for each credit card I try to ensure that I get more value from the card than the annual maintenance fees.


You can greatly enhance you timeshare travel by using credit cards from the timeshare brands you own. In my case that is Hilton, Marriott, and Wyndham (Worldmark). You can earn free nights stay at the hotel chains related to the timeshares. I have used some of these free nights to stay at hotels on the weekend when the points needed to stay in timeshares is the highest.

Video Review of my favorite travel credit cards

 

[Monykalyn]

Leveraging the use of travel credit cards can greatly enhance your timeshare travel experiences. I have created a video that list the credit cards I carry and why I carry them. I have created the list of credit cards in the order of the value I believe I get from them. I also include the costs of any annual maintenance fees. And for each credit card I try to ensure that I get more value from the card than the annual maintenance fees.


You can greatly enhance you timeshare travel by using credit cards from the timeshare brands you own. In my case that is Hilton, Marriott, and Wyndham (Worldmark). You can earn free nights stay at the hotel chains related to the timeshares. I have used some of these free nights to stay at hotels on the weekend when the points needed to stay in timeshares is the highest.

Video Review of my favorite travel credit cards

My husband has little stickers saying what card gives the best cashback/reward for what on his cards, and one strictly for business. I'm not that disciplined but getting better.

 

[slip]

I always used my United card when I lived in Wisconsin. We got many free flights to Hawaii using those cards. We still have about 100,000 miles to use with them.

Now that we live in Hawaii, we switched over to using the Hawaiian Airlines card. We have about 100,000 mile with them now also and we only use them for inter-island so those will last a while.

 

[artringwald]

I love the Chase Sapphire Reserve. You get 3x points for all travel and dining, including timeshare MF payments. If you use the points to book through Chase, you get 50% more value. For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel. It's expensive, $450/year, but you get $300 credit toward travel expenses. The 50% bonus for booking through Chase easily covers the other $150 of the annual fee.

 

[mdurette]

I went with "other" as I am also a fan of Chase Ultimate Rewards points since I can transfer them to many airline or hotel partners or book travel with them. My "go-to" card is the Chase Sapphire reserve and my DH has Chase Freedom. We then transfer his points to mine for 1.50 redemption.

Outside of UR - my secondary cards are Southwest and Marriott and will use them when it makes more sense.

 

[vacationtime1]

It depends on which card is offering what incentive this month.

Or if we are trying to meet the minimum spend on a new card for the sign-up bonus.

Let them compete.

 

[elaine]

My fav is the one the gives me 50k+ to sign up and a free year without fees. Dh and I alternate getting one so that we’re only each signing up every 2 years for a new card-which we either Canx or downgrade to free card the next year. So we’re not on any naughty list for churning cards. And since many airlines just dropped redeposit fees, I like my miles card bc I can now book in advance and Canx for free later if the trip doesn’t work out. I’ll like that a lot for future Europe travel.
I like also Marriott card bc I get a free night certificate which more than nets the annual fee. They run specials like 10x Marriott 5x groceries etc. Plus extended warranty, as on most cards.We usually use the points for cheapo deals traveling. Dh just stayed in a courtyard 5 night for work for 36k points total!

 

[Clifbell]

My husband has little stickers saying what card gives the best cashback/reward for what on his cards, and one strictly for business. I'm not that disciplined but getting better.

I like your husband.... We would get along great... In the process of doing the video, I realized I wasn't using the right card for groceries... I will put a sticker on my refrigerator in your Husband's honor and a good (but nerdy) idea.

 

[Clifbell]

My fav is the one the gives me 50k+ to sign up and a free year without fees. Dh and I alternate getting one so that we’re only each signing up every 2 years for a new card-which we either Canx or downgrade to free card the next year. So we’re not on any naughty list for churning cards. And since many airlines just dropped redeposit fees, I like my miles card bc I can now book in advance and Canx for free later if the trip doesn’t work out. I’ll like that a lot for future Europe travel.
I like also Marriott card bc I get a free night certificate which more than nets the annual fee. They run specials like 10x Marriott 5x groceries etc. Plus extended warranty, as on most cards.We usually use the points for cheapo deals traveling. Dh just stayed in a courtyard 5 night for work for 36k points total!

I used to do that but some of the credit card companies caught up to our trick... I used to do that with Southwest, but they don't allow it anymore :-(

 

[elaine]

If you space it out 1x/2years varying card issuers, seems they’re fine. Chase issues United cards, Citibank or Barclays does AA. Some years we don’t bother. Like now. Never paid cash for a ticket to Hawaii or Europe.

 

[SabresFan]

I voted Southwest mainly because I am trying to get the Companion Pass again for next year. But really the number one consideration for me has always been the sign-up bonus. Southwest is currently offering 80,000 points signup bonus (unless it just ended), which is insane. Back in November my wife signed up for the Capital One Venture card - 100,000 miles bonus (which is equivalent to $1000). I used to be thrilled with picking up $200 on a new card. Heck, I was thrilled when I got my Capital One Venture a couple years ago for a 60,000 point bonus.
Winter months are generally the best times for the signup bonuses from what I have seen. But generally, my wife and I are now signing up for one new card per year and rotating through the various perks.

 

[Talent312]

Given limits on our travel. we've moved from travel cards to cash-back cards.
-- Chase Freedom Unlimited for dining + drugs + groceries (3%).
-- Citibank's Double Cash-Back for everything else.

We don't churn cards much. I have an Am-Ex that's been open ~15 years.
But we recently closed the Chase Sapphire Reserve & Am-Ex Delta.

 

[PcflEZFlng]

Given limits on our travel. we've moved from travel cards to cash-back cards.

We've done the same, moving purchases toward our Costco VISA and away from our AA Citibank MC.

 

[DazedandConfused]

Chase Sapphire Reserve

 

[MULTIZ321]

Amex launches limited-time offers for Delta SkyMiles, Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy card members.

Amex launches limited-time offers for Delta SkyMiles, Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy card members

Eligible U.S. consumer and business American Express card members can now use statement credit offers on dining and wireless phone services and maximize points.

www.cnbc.com

Richard

 

[BingoBangoBongo]

Just added the Amex $20/month dining credit to my Aspire Card. Helps defer some of the AF. Thanks for posting that article.

 

[Sandy VDH]

Chase Sapphire Reserve. Most flexible of the bunch.

 

[isisdave]

Chase Sapphire Preferred for travel. Last October there was a promotion on Chase Freedom Flex offering 5% on groceries for a year. Since that's about all we're spending money on, and because points are transferable to the Preferred, we got that one. I hate cards that you have to pay attention to quarterly, however.

For default use, we have Fidelity Rewards: 2% on everything. The Citi double cash back is a good alternative.
Then there's the Amazon card for Amazon (5%), the Marriott card solely for the maintenance fee (5x points).
We have a PenFed card that gives 5% on gas and 3% on groceries , now (until October) used solely for gas (like once monthly ....).

 

[artringwald]

For default use, we have Fidelity Rewards: 2%

I like Fidelity Visa because you can have it automatically deposit the cash into your checking account.

Then there's the Amazon card for Amazon (5%)

For us it's a no brainer because we order so much stuff from Amazon, even before the pandemic. I'd even pay a little more to buy it through Amazon just to have purchases searchable in my order history.

 

[KProuty]

I'm certainly not professional like a lot of you. I tend to get a card and stick.

I was going to sign up for the Marriott Bonvoy from Chase with their 3 free nights offer that supposedly expired January 31... BUT......

• I tried to sign up January 30th and it said it was no longer offered
• I called Chase and asked what the problem was
• Person on the phone said I was only offered 75,000 bonus points and no free nights
• I'm looking at the mailing piece that they sent me that contradicts this

SOOOO... I went and took myself off of all Chase marketing lists and I am going back to Amex or Bank of America.

 

[frank808]

Love using my Hilton Aspires for HGVC MF and Hilton hotel payments. Between wife and I we have four Aspire cards. We get four free nights annually and $200($50x4) back by using the $250 credit for paying our annual HGVC MF and $250 airline reimbursements.

Now AMEX has added the $20 a month for 11 months dining credit. Between activating the Aspire($20), Marriott Brilliant($20) and Amex SPG($10) we will get $1100 in dining credits this year. For those with multiple AMEX cards that have dining credit, you can add the dining credit to each card you have that is not the same type. Example is I have two Aspires but can only add it to one of the cards. But able to add the free dining credit to the AMEX Marriott Brilliant and AMEX SPG card.

 

[Fitzriley]

I use Amex Hilton Honors and have not paid for a hotel room in 2 years. My daughter has traveled from NY to Santa Barbara and back this year for college and I was able to get her hotel rooms on her drives both ways. We made it to Key West by car in October and also used hotel points. And I am going to Naples, FL next week for 4 nights in Hiltons hotels, all at no cost.

I also got $75 back for shopping local this past year, which almost paid for the $95 annual fee.

I use my Chase Amazon card at Amazon and get 5% back, which just lets me shop more!!

 

[Talent312]

... I am going back to Amex or Bank of America...

Sorry, but BoA, at least locally, is the most consumer un-friendly bank I know of...
They demand an ID to deposit small cash amounts due to a history in money laundering,
it has removed tellers from drive thrus (ATM's only), and our nearest branch is actually
closed on Wednesdays (their golf day?), not to mention fees for everything.
<soapbox/off>


.

 

[mbh]

We use the Hilton card and I can't remember when we last paid for a room. Also, we like our Delta and United cards for the early boarding perk and no checked bag fees.

 

[Monykalyn]

use my Chase Amazon card at Amazon and get 5% back, which just lets me shop more!!

Yeah it’s a problem lol! Although there’s been a few years where I’ve done nearly all Christmas shopping through Amazon using accumulated points. Husband has a business Amazon one as he orders a lot through there.

just got an offer for SW card with free Companion pass! Think pass is only good through next February though. Now with more routes to Hawaii and we are planning 2 weeks there summer 2022 wish it was longer end date.